Pretty sure I already know the answer to this question but is 90 gallons too small to add 2 Discus with my 2 Oscars?

I don't claim to be an expert on Discus but what I do know is they really do need good quality water to live in. Also, I really don't think that these are the type of fish that you should mix with Oscars. Discus are quiet specialized, and expensive as well, you really want to keep these on their own, and if you do keep them with tankmates, make sure they are nonaggressive.

Oops. Not discus. It's Severums I was looking at possibly adding.

Well,90 gallons isn't big enough for two Oscars, you could probably have one Oscar and maybe a severum. Always severum's do have the potential to get quite big, in my experience they grow very slowly.

Severum are fantastic fish to mix with Oscars because they are classed as semi-aggressive but from my experience are really not aggressive at all, but they can hold their own perfectly okay

to answer your original question if you thought your 90 gallon tank would be too small for 2 oscars and some tankmates your right.
actually a 90 is a tad on the small side for just your 2 oscars but with enough maintenance and fitration i guess it could be possible.
if you do plan on adding any mates sevs are a good choice but you will need to upgrade your tanksize. depending on how many you add will determine how big of a tank you will need


btw i moved your thread to the tankmates section of the forum to help with site continuity.

I figured. 90 was the best I could do on my budget. Got the tank, stand and hood w/light on Craigs for $200. Have added a Jebo 835 Canister Filter and getting my heaters this weekend. Not planning on moving my O's for at least 3 weeks. Still weighing options to aerate the tank but have a pretty good idea what I will be doing. Just a matter of funds. Want to do it right the first time.

Again, always great advice and I really appreciate it.

OFL wrote:


how slow? I got mine as a very young fish in Oct 2009 - probably the diameter of a golf ball. He has definitely grown since then; but his rate of growth is much slower than the O's.

in your experience - how long does it take for a Severum to reach full-size?

I think Severums have the same sort of facial structure as discus (long flat face, sloping nose, tiny little mouth)... does anyone else see that?

brichter04 wrote:


Severums are known as the poor mans discus

Nice fish and a good tankmate for oscars

haha i didnt know severums were a poor mans discus, thats well funny, give me severums anyday, screw daily watwer changes and 6 times a day feeding! lol

askhammatt wrote:


Is that true?
I like severums!!

Tell you a secret..
I do one water change a week for my discus, and feed once a day, sometimes twice, they breed like rabbits, and are perfectly healthy...

And the experts know best?

Yep sevs used to be called poor mans discus, well thats what i have heard old people call them (im in uk)

When i kept discus i used to do twice daily feedings and 2 water changes a week of 25% each time (2/3 new water had to come through a RO machine). Discus are relatively easy to keep you just have to make sure you dont let the water conditions deteriorate