hi all, as mentioned before I have a 300L tank with 2 x 5" oscars in it...

if the tank is big enough to take any tank mates what would be ok? I was thinking of either some (maybe 3 or 4) clown loach, or a catfish.. really something to mop up the mess the oscars make when feeding (jesus they're messy eaters)

also, if I did get a few loaches, what sort of size would i need to buy so they were safe from being dinner?

all the best

Tony

3 to 4 c.loach would be fine if you an get a decent size not less
than 3 inches, otherwise, they would be a very expensive snack for
the oscar. or 3 angel fish could be an alternative. they get along well
with o.

300 liter tank works out to be around the 80 us gallon mark. for 2 oscars we generally recommend a 110 gallon tank so by that process you are probably overstocked now and therefore tankmates really shouldnt be added.

totally agree with necro

thats fine, but will the oscars suffer in any way if they are alone?

also will not having other fish to mop up after the dinner time antics of the oscars have a detrimental effect on anything?

I have lots of filtration so it may be fine to have just the oscars..

I want whats best for the oscars.. if 300L isnt enough to accomodate tankmates so be it.. I do know different people have different ideas of whats right, thats why I love forums so much..

all the best, and thanks for the advice

Tony

Tony the only effect that I can think of is maybe more frequent water changes.. Just keep an eye on your water peramiters.

hmmm well, i had 2 oscars for about a year, they were quite nice till one day something in their brains switched and they faught constantly for a month, i got heartbroken watching the small one get beaten up so i had to donate him to my LFS, but now the big one is by himself, he seems to have mellowed out ALOT. i even have small (quite small) fish in the tank and for the most part he ignores them. like a week ago i put in a dozen minnows i had left over from a fishing trip and i still have 10 of them! lol amazing.

Nickisue wrote:

plus when they are not given enough room they tend to be more aggressive.

I also hate to keep a fish all by himself, best thing you should do is try to get a bigger tank, 110 gal plus.
Os get along with JDs so you can replace one of your Os with a JD. 300L will be enough for 1O, 1JD and 2-3 pictus catfish or similar size ones.
just my idea

I think you will be ok with 2 oscars but you dont have enough room for tankmates. You could get rid of an oscar and then get some SD's or clown loaches

Oscar will be fine on their own, they dont need company