How Much Experience In Fish Keeping Would You Say Is Required To Keep Oscar Fish?

I have no experience and I was just curious how much experience is best to have before considering Oscar fish. Thanks!

 

I guess you don’t really need to have experience to have one. You would have to know how to care for it. Like knowing what size tank is recommended, what filtration system is good, what food to feed, how often to do water changes. If you do enough research to where you know you’re able to give the fish the proper care then you can get one.

 

Thanks for your comment! I will think and research more about Oscar Fish!

 

When I got my first Oscar about 6 months ago I had a little knowledge from having a 10 gal and a 29 gal tank. My best advise is to look up care and mantinance for the Oscar because of how dirty the fish is and how sentisive they are needing clean water. The most important thing is tank size, filtration, and water changes. I would recommend getting the right size tank from the start instead of upgrading size as they grow because they need a lot of space. Also depending on the size of tank, look up tank mates. They will not get lonely by them selves but if you want tank mates there are certain fish that are good and bad to tank with the Oscar. Good luck with your Oscar if you decide to get one and I hope I could help.

 

Thank you so much! I will take those things into reconsideration.

 

Seriouslyfish.com is a website many Fishlore members rely on for good info on fish (temp, tank size, etc).

 

Oscars are easy to care for, i personally have 4. Two adults and 2 baby albinos. 80 degrees is optimal temp for oscars, anything lower and mine get all sulky on me. All my oscars eat whatever I feed them on a given day, they’re essentially pets when they trust you, they come to the top of the tank and wiggle around like little pupperonis. My two adults are in a 125g with A green terror, firemouths, pleco, rainbow shark, blood parrot and 2 angels and everyone coexists but the oscars ARE the bosses.

Oscars do require water changes frequently, i do it twice a week on top of the fact i have a FX4 canister filter coupled with two AQ110s pumping 1700gph into my 125g. Maintence is huge with any big fish, but Oscars are insane waste producers.

I recommend Oscars for anyone that want personable fish.


As for tank sizes, if you get a baby oscar you can grow him out in a 15-20 gallon if hes 1-3 inches then you can put him in a 55gallon afterwards, I started all 4 of my Oscars in a 15 gallon grow out to acclimate them to myself and the water.

Oscars can be either docile or aggressive, bur one thing that needs to mentioned is they think with their stomachs not heads. Meaning you stick something they can fit in their mouths in your tank and they will eat it, it’s nature for them. If it fits, they eats.!

 

Oh, my goodness thank you so much! This will come very handy for me since I have no experience. Thanks again!

Wow, thank you so much! I appreicate the experienced advice.

Do you know any good stores/websites to buy them from? Or any cheap places to get a good tank. 55 plus gallons COST SO MUCH.

Thanks again.

 

If you're in America, they do not cost "so much"

 

See if your local pet stores are running any deals. I just picked up a 75 gal for my newest Oscar for $300 and the bundle included the tank, stand, glass canopy, and light bar.

 

They don't? At my local pet store they do, but maybe I'm just not used to spending money on Aquarium supplies.

Ah ok! I will look around for any sales. Thanks!

 

Most nano setups here slightly less than 100 dollars. If you have a Petco nearby keep an eye out for the dollar per gallon sale

 

Woah really?! Do they have 75 gallons??

 

I would recommend checking craigslist for deals.

 

Thank you for the advice. Never bought anything off there, not sure if I'll try it out.

 

They do, but it’s only 50% off I think.