I was looking at your site today and noticed how often the question of tank mates and fish compatability is asked. In nature fish species are abundant and are found living in close proximity to one another. We generally don't mix species in aquariums because of our inability to simultate the natural environment. I've mixed about everything in the 20 years I've been keeping fish. You need to know bigger fish eat smaller fish and water consistency is more important than ph, hardness, and temperature. Any fish species can be mixed with any other in an aquarium if the tank is large enough and is well maintained. See pictures of my tank at www.oscarfishlover.com/social-network/ph...bumid=67#photoid=228 as proof. This is a large established tank that's been running for over a year. It has massive filtration, frequent water changes, and timed feedings every 4hrs. Tank inhabitants are from all over the world, see list below

South America
1 - Red Oscar 12"
1 - Albino Oscar 12"
1 - Breeding Angelfish pair Gold and Black Lace, palm size
1 - Adult Blushing Angelfish, palm size
5 - Baby Silver Angels from spawn in tank, quarter size
12 - Cardinal Tetras
4 - Bloodfin Tetras 3"

North America
1 - Longear Bluegill 6"

Africa
1 - Red Empress Cichlid 5"
1 - Blue Ahli Cichlid 4"
1 - Yellow Lab Cichlid 4"
1 - African Brown Knife 7"

Asia
4 - Tiger Barbs 3"
1 - Clown Loach 4"

Australia
1 - Bosami Rainbow 4"
1 - Turquoise Rainbow 5"

Others
1 - Common Pleco 14"
1 - Common Pleco 6"
1 - Guppy 3"

Key success factors.

There is an invisible divider length wise across the tank to seperate the front of the tank from the back of the tank. The community species are kept in the front and the aggressive species in the back.

2 canister filters and 2 biowheels in the back, 1 canister filter in the front. Water flows under and around the divider. Filters pull from one section and empty into the other. This creates very good water circulation.

76 degree constant temp and frequent feedings to reduce aggression. Use an inexpensive low protein food such as Wardly pond pellets and Tetra goldfish flakes. Nevermind it is not marketed as food for these species. I find it keeps the water clearer and avoids bloat which would otherwise be a problem with this many feedings.

Water changes and gravel vaccuum are a must. I change 10% to 25% every weekend.

Keep fish you like and do your tank maintenance at least biweekly. You'll love the results and everyone else will too.


http://www.oscarfishlover.com/social-network/photos/photo?albumid=67#photoid=228

Welcome to our community. By the way, I'm not able to view your photos for some reason.

Thank you for your post, it was very informative and I'm sure that our members will appreciate all you have had to say.

The website is really aimed at beginners and intermediates who wish to keep Oscars but may not have the resources to set up an expensive and sophisticated aquarium. Most people who visit our website have an aquarium that averages less than 100 gallons. We have to try and balance out the advice so that people can keep Oscars and look after them properly. I know from experience that setting up a large aquarium is not a cheap project. I suppose in an ideal world everyone would have a fantastic setup for their fish, but we know that ain't going to happen, so as long as this website is running, people are going to try and keep Oscars in very small tanks. So we have to be here to pick up the pieces for them.

Anyway, I hope you stick around, it's nice to have another experienced member who can help steer our members in the correct way of setting up an aquarium and keeping their fish healthy.

thanks for sharing. very nice set up and loads of good looking fishes.

I would love to have a bluegill, or any sunfish in my tank.
I initially chose Oscars because they look similar to north american sunfish, but fell in love with their attitude.

nice post and awsome lookin tank by the way!!

Are you sure that is a bluegill? it looks alt like a pumpkin seed

My 10yr old son caught the bluegill on a rapala last year when we were bass fishing. We kept him in a 55 gallon until he would eat pellets. He moved to the oscar tank after about a month. He makes a great oscar tankmate and can be safely added at any size. They behave very similar to Jack Dempseys. If you get one avoid other blue fish that are not at least the same size. Also, don't put more than one bluegill in a tank. The strongest will always kill weaker ones. Other than that they are great. Nobody bothers the bluegill and the oscars ignore him completely. I've uploaded some more pics at www.oscarfishlover.com/social-network/ph...bumid=67#photoid=229 There is a close up of the bluegill in one of them.

We've always called them longear bluegills, but it could be a pumpkinseed. This one was caught in TN while vacation on Pickwick lake. He likes to hang out near the tree in the tank.

Regardless I am jealous! Sadly no bluegill where I live. Closest thing would be rock bass. One day I want to have a massive aquarium with some smallmouths.

I tried largemouth bass in an 125 gallon aquarium without much luck. In the wild they are agressive fish that hunt for food and look beautiful. In the aquarium they are slow moving passive fish with drab colors. Sunfish are great though. Add a crayfish and watch them go at it.

Hi OFL,
Oscars are great. They were my first and all time favorite fish. My first Oscar tank was a 29gallon with a red and a tiger. I didn't use a heater and didn't know about cycling. My red died the first week. The tiger lasted about 3 months. A site like this would have helped alot back then. Kudo's to all for the great source of info here at oscarfishlovers. Keep up the good work.

PS. To anyone who likes Oscars but can't keep a big tank. Check out puffers. They are awesome too. Same temperament, curiosity, and behavior as oscars. It's hard not to like a green spotted puffer They do great with snails, lettuce leaves, and a couple of mollies. You can setup a really nice 15 gallon tank with a pair of spotted puffers and have almost no maintenance. Enjoy

Thats an interesting setup and it looks good. I can see why you have done it, to try to make it look natural.