Oscar With Tiger Barbs

Hey! I’m moving in about 3 months and I want to get an Oscar fish. My plan is to buy a 37 gallon, and stock it with 1 Oscar, and a few tiger barbs. Obviously I would never keep the Oscar in a 37 gallon, I would grow it out, then put it in a 75 gallon. My question is if a 4 or 5 inch Oscar would eat tiger barbs. I’ve heard of introducing the barbs a few weeks earlier which I’d probably do to let them think they own the tank. I could always just have the one Oscar with nothing else, but I don’t want to have an empty tank when I Move the Oscar. Any help would be nice.

 

A 37g for an Oscar isn't going to do well. If you have the 75 gallon plop the Oscar in there.

You should stock for the tank you have now.

 

I would hold off until you get the 75 gallon.

 

To answer your question, a 4-5 inch Oscar will not prey on Tiger barbs, however, the best option would be to have the oscar in the 75 to start with.

 

A 37g for an Oscar isn't going to do well. If you have the 75 gallon plop the Oscar in there.

You should stock for the tank you have now.

To my understanding, upgrading your tank with your fish is not at all a bad thing to do.

There is a video on the king of diy’s channel where he explains that with personable fish, in his case a flowerhorn, upgrading the tank as the fish grows is good because a small fish in a big tank will not interact with you as much because it has other things to worry about, but you have to be careful that you don’t stunt the fish. After all this though, I will probably go straight to the 75

 

It’s pretty messed up that he just keeps tossing frank around acting like it’s for his benefit when it’s just convenient for him, but that’s just my opinion. If you did do the 37 with a 4-5 inch Oscar you have 3 months to get him to the 75 gallon if you want to reduce the risk of stunting him. That’s assuming he’s growing at the healthy rate of 1” per month. If you REALLY want to go for it than do it without the barbs. You would probably save a lot more money by waiting the 3 months and just start with the 75 gallon though. But hey, it’s your choice. Although, I will tell you that you probably won’t get anyone here to agree with you.

 

Ok thanks

 

There is a video on the king of diy’s channel where he explains that with personable fish, in his case a flowerhorn, upgrading the tank as the fish grows is good because a small fish in a big tank will not interact with you as much because it has other things to worry about, but you have to be careful that you don’t stunt the fish. After all this though, I will probably go straight to the 75

The King of DIY's video was talking about keeping the fish in a completely bare aquarium, no substrate, decor, or tankmates. A fish will choose to interact with other fish 9 times out of 10, and thus the fish won't be personable in your average aquarium with decor and tank mates anyway. The reason I recommend this is because you only have a few months before the fish outgrows the 37. If it was a fish like a clown loach that takes 8 years to reach a foot, then I would say go for it.

 

More likely that not the 75 will be a bare aquarium

 

We've all talked about upgrading to a bigger tank to accommodate for a fish that will outgrow a tank, it's normal to think that. However...life gets in the way. For some adults is losing passion of a hobby, or a financial crunch or unexpected things happen that puts a 75 gallon out of the way.

Your 14 years old, ultimately it's your parents that make the decision with the money or you saved enough to buy it. But things happen, perhaps you want new sneakers, or your saving up for a car when you get your license.

Regardless of age I always advise that taught you buy the fish for the size of your tank. Yeah we all want to upgrade later but life happens. The King of DIY, is a great resource but at the same time he's a different situation. He has sponsors that help him get certain things, his ad revenue from youtube likely is his aquarium money. He did have to do a fundraiser to get the fish room.

 

I understand

 

Adult Oscars can and absolutely will eat Tiger Barbs.

 

Adult Oscars can and absolutely will eat Tiger Barbs.

Well duh

 

To answer your question, a 4-5 inch Oscar will not prey on Tiger barbs, however, the best option would be to have the oscar in the 75 to start with.

My Oscar had other ideas lol
This particular barb was trying to have a nip at the Oscar tho so maybe it struck in defence there is still a barb left and the Oscar has not bothered it