jaymz

Just wanted to introduce myself and my new fish

here's links to the photos:
oscars
55 gallon tank

I don't have names for the Oscars yet - any suggestions??

Gunnie

Welcome to FishLore! What beauties! Is your tank cycled? If not, Please click on the link in my signature "FishLore Articles for Beginners". It will give you a lot of good information you will need to know about your tank. Also, are there plans on getting a larger tank or another 55 gallon in the future? Your oscars will outgrow your 55 gal. in a year or less, so please keep this in mind, and unfortunately, your fake plants will probably get moved around the tank on a daily basis, so just be ready for that. Oscars like to decorate their tanks their way, and as they get bigger, they get more aggressive and grumpy. They will likely start to fight with each other, and since they can get 16 inches long each, two oscars in 1 55 gallon tank is way too much fish. They don't mind being the only fish in their tank. I have 2 in a 100 gal. tank and they fight from time to time. They are also big waste producers, and you will have to do large water changes every week to keep their water clean. They are great fish, so don't get discouraged! They are personality plus fish, and you will enjoy them immensely as long as you take care of their needs and keep them happy!

jaymz

Thanks - I'm sure they appreciate it

unfortunately this was a present, so i wasn't able to give my tank time to run without fish. I'll be keeping an eye on all the nitrate/ammonium/pH balances though.

The reason i bought the stand that i did was because i am planning to get another tank when they get big enough.
I've owned Oscars before, a long time ago - these ones are just starting to get friendly when i bring them food

I still haven't picked out a name for them yet, I'm leaning towards "powder" for the albino - but don't have a good name for the red tiger yet.
maybe "shere khan" or just "kahn"

jaymz

One more question - i've been having a hard time figuring out what temperature to keep my tank at. I've been reading anywhere from 72 - 82 degrees, what do you think?

Gunnie

I keep mine at 78 and they seem to do well at that temperature.

Tom

Beautiful fish and tank.
Tom

jaymz

thanks for the compliments and the info. I've bought some air tubes, and they seem to have a lot of fun playing in the bubbles.

Tom

That would be fun to watch.
Tom

Puppypower

That's a beautiful tank mate, & beautiful fish, I am thinking of getting oscars too lol.

jaymz

Uh oh - I believe one of my Oscars ate the other. When i fed them this morning, there was 2 Oscars in there - now there is only one. I'm kind of surprised that they could eat each other, they're both the same size.

jaymz

whew - after writing this message "potter", the one i thought had disappeared is back.
I'm gonna have to keep an eye on him and figure out where he hid ....

robby270

it looks to me like he may have hid himself inside of the cave with ruins on it.... but i dunno i'm just guessing

Awsome fish i love Oscars, i'm thinking of getting a another when i figure out which sex my current Oscar is.

smillermom

Glad you found him! Beautiful fish!! I had an Oscar about 20 years ago that got to be 16 inches long. He lived about 12 years in a 55 gallon tank. Got him when he was just 2 inches long with another tank mate and one mysteriously disappeared!! Hmmmmmmmmmmm!