Hi everyone!

We are new to the forum and trying to find out what to do for the best with our Oscar! He was in the tank with 2 little cleaners, a shark and a gourami. We then bought a new tank along with a population of fish.

We weren't sure what to do with Oscar because of the newer fish so we removed the Oscar from the general population of the tank a few weeks ago and into a much smaller tank (we think it's a 22L/5 gallon) and I now know that it's not suitable for Oscar!

He's currently a little baby and is about 10cm long - Should I put him into the 5ft tank asap and run the risk of loosing the other fish?

i would put him in the bigger tank and put the shark in the smaller tank, oscars are much more important that sharks, and they need a HUGE TANK

I do love the oscar - he can be a bit of a joker at times, especially when he's in full sulk mode and he's very clever!

I really don't think I was prepared enough for him! I didn't learn as much as I could about them before I got him!

So don't know what to do here!

depending on the other fish you have in your 5 foot tank, i would put the oscar in with them, unless you have something in there that might kill him. if he is the largest then you should be safe.
if you can give a list of the tankmates you have we will be better able to aid you in the placement of them......

Yes, the Oscar needs to be in a large tank for it to grow properly. If you feel that you can't give the Oscar a good home and you prefer your other fish then please try and find a suitable home for the Oscar as soon as possible, don't just leave it in the small tank welcome to the site by the way

Place it back in the five foot tank, if you think something is bite size snack then chances are they must be very small,so for the time being place them in the 5g..but from your list nothing is good for a 5g for life...

Gourami but what type?
cleaner again what type,you could have anything from bulldog/bristlenose plec through chienese algae eater right up to the woppers like gibbicep/common or adonis plec,now these last three get very large indeed where as the first two are small plecs,with the CAE being mid sized..

if you are unsure please feel free to post pics, however the bala shark and oscar deffo need to be in the five foot tank,bala's esp when singular and very timid and shocked easily darting around the tank,needing space so they do not damage there nose.

Then work out what you prefer a few large fish,or a nice community tank with lots of little fishes,

one you will need to get a few more bala's,they are happiest in groups, two then rehome the oscar and bala..

nelly wrote:


Yeah, really a 5 gallon is pretty much only ok for a betta. Thats pretty much it.

There are a few things,like dwarf puffers,i have a male and female which paired off from a group,but as of yet no fry..

I think I might just give it a go and put him back in the tank!

Oh and the sharks are red tailed sharks - 1 male, 1 female (they seem to be getting on alright, not had much af a problem with them, they have there own teritory).

Gourmai is a 3 spot (we think)

Now onto identifying the others!

These red tailed sharks(even the gouramies) will be a good snack for your oscar once it grows...
It best for u to put the small fishes in the small aquarium,coz the oscar will eat anything it can easily fit into its mouth

your oscar needs the bigger tank, and he will most likely create more room for himself.
Mine did...