Ok my first mistake......I bought a Oscar and only have a 3 gallon tank. How bad is it? help. Will he outgrow it? How soon? I need to get a another tank?
Help Help Help

welcome to the site.yes, huge mistake. When yo bought it, did they tell you how big it would get.

the only thing I can advise you to do now is take the fish back to the shop and don't get another one until you've got a suitable tank. There is no way on God's earth a 3 gallon tank is big enough for an Oscar, not even a very small one.

Please don't think I'm chastising you, you've done the right thing coming on here and asking advice, with the help of our members and this website, we will steer you in the right direction

I have fell in love with Carrotop and will buy a bigger tank. Maybe a 10-15 will last a month or two? Hopefully Yes?

Hi, and welcome to OFL. I'm no expert, and I'm sure more knowledgable people will also post, but I think you may want to consider taking the fish back to the store until you can get a bigger tank.

Oscars grow Really fast when they are young and they eat alot, which means alot of waste and that can quickly lead to bad water quality.

Oscars get rather large and its suggested you go with at least a 55 gal tank, I'd say 75gal for the extra width when they get bigger.

Maybe the store could hold onto it while you get a new tank and cycle it?

Good Luck and let us know what happens.

-Az

if you are serious about keeping even on Oscar, you must keep it in a big tank. 55 gallons is the absolute minimum. However, I would advise 75 gallons for one Oscar.Oscars are arguably one of the messiest fish around, they produce an awful lot of waste because of their voracious appetite..

I appreciate that you are very fond of this fish, maybe the shop will keep it for you until you can get a suitable tank?

If you chose to ignore what we have said, you will probably be back here before too long asking advice on why your Oscar won't eat and why your water is always cloudy.

We only want to help you:)

I know I have to get a bigger tank but he is small enough right now that i can make it a gradual process. he is only 3 inches right now Ill keep getting them bigger. I have just always heard that a fish will never outgrow it containment. At least that works for Koi. Which I have several of them. Ill keep him and just keep moving him in new condos. I'll start my moving him into a ten the start looking for a 20. I do have a spare bedroom. can it be glassed?
Thanks Guys
Brenda

Oscars are one of the fastest-growing fish around, they average around 1 inch a month, and that doesn't just mean 1 inch in length, the whole body starts getting bigger. don't forget that you've got to cycle the tanks before putting the Oscar in, you're looking at around five weeks, a little more for each tank.

Guess it is time to start looking. what a challenge. I owed a couple about 30 years ago. They seemed to have done well and I had a big tank for both of them. but they were killed by my sister in law from overfeeding. forgot all i knew.

Oh what kind or color is this oscar?

hi and welcome to ofl.com yes u have a problem on yr hands personally i would get the LFS to hold onto him for at least 6weeks so u can get a 55g tank cycled one of my oscars have grown to 6,5 inches in 3months and he was only 2,5inches when i got him so be carefull as yr oscar will outgrow yr tank within a couple of weeks.

A oscar kept in a small tank may have its growth stunted, and though its' body may stop growing it's organs will continue to grow, which isn't any fun for the fish.

I don't mean to badger you, but you have a beautiful little fish there and I'd hate to see anything bad happen to it.

If you do the gradual upgrade of tanks please keep in mind you'll have to keep upgrading the filters, etc,.. for a larger tank, each time....and go through the trouble of cycling the new tank each time.

I would hope a local fish store would help you out and hold onto him until you've got a bigger tank set-up, they may even be able to help you cycle a new tank faster!

My main worry is the ammount of ammonia your fish is going to be producing in such a small amount of water.

Good Luck!

-Az

Hi and welcome to ofl.com.The guys are right you need 55gal min,for one oscar take him back and ask them to keep him 6 weeks to cycle you're new tank.