Im going to be getting a large tank soon and was looking for some tips on stocking it. I know the tank will be at least 220 gallons but I might end up getting a 300 gallon. I obviously love oscars and they will be a must for the tank. Any ideas on some other fish? I am probably going to have to order the fish online. My LFS's dont have the greatest selection of fish, especially big fish.
I just got an electric blue jack dempsey and so far I love it. He is great, and a very beautiful fish. I haven't had him for maybe a few weeks but so far I love him . So you could try one of those out. They run about $20-30 depending on where you are. The only problem is that you can't find them very big and they grow slow so the oscars could eat him if the oscar grows fast enough.
Gar is ill adviced if you got boisterous and agressive Oscars, but if you got gentle O's , a Florida gar or even 2 may be excellent tankmates. that is if the footprint of your tank is at least 6x2x2...
imo you'll never regret a fish like that for they are very docile.
here's them together:
on the other hand, i'd go for some bigger cats that will still fit at adult size.
Jaguar catfish,juruense, or merodontotus will be good tankmates.
Juruense would be my first choise...
Edit: sorry about my appreciating rant about the Gar, but Oscars, Gars and Puffer have proven to be the fish with the most personality and interaction in my years of expierience!
Our fish don't grow too big, our tank becomes too small! Plecofanatic Primitive fish Keeper : Florida Gar OscarFishLover!
it depends on wat u prefer actually. some like to hav bright intense colours, they would go for a bunch of african(or any colourful) cichlids.. but if ure goin for size and teeth, i would say go for alligator gars or giant snakehead. ure not from the USA are u? cos strictly no snakeheads there.
watever floats ur banana boat.. heheh!
but if ure goin for size and teeth, i would say go for alligator gars
Not to be rude, but I do not aggree on the idea of putting an Aligator gar in a tank that "small"...
300Gl may sound big, but if you fit one of these in there, there'd be no room left for water, and fish do need water.
If you want Gar, do not go beyond the Cuban gar, gators are too big too keep in home aquariums,imo.
And Gator gars love Oscars, for dinner that is!
Our fish don't grow too big, our tank becomes too small! Plecofanatic Primitive fish Keeper : Florida Gar OscarFishLover!
even though 220-300 gallons sound like a huge tank in reality they are not that big. assuming you plan on having an oscar or two in it this will limit what else you can put into it.
i would look into a tankmates that are not overly aggressive but can still compete with oscars for food. perhaps something like severums, jacks, and smaller type cichlids like sals. also you could have a fair sized school of sd's to act as dithers. that with a cool bottom feeder like a juruense or tigrinus catfish would be an awesome collection of fish for a 300 gallon tank.
Warning..I will offend you at some point!!!
my goal is simple a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all
but if ure goin for size and teeth, i would say go for alligator gars
If you want Gar, do not go beyond the Cuban gar, gators are too big too keep in home aquariums,imo.
And Gator gars love Oscars, for dinner that is!
Have you seen gar going for Oscars? i was under the impression that Alligator Gar are actually VERY docile fish, that scavenge more than hunt for prey. I could be totally wrong thou especially if you've seen it.
i definitely agree that they are WAY to large for a tank that size.
noddy, that looks like an alligators head photoshopped to a fish... lol if it is, i apologise for my obvious idiocy... lol
Haha no its a Fish, Atractosteus spatula the "Alligator Gar". It's the largest exclusively freshwater fish found in north America, reaching a size of upto 12 feet did a lil wiki and Noddy was right, it would make a quick snack of an O
LOL..! actually ive never seen any other gars except for gators here in my place, so its some sort of a default to say alligator gar. gators dont actually grow that fast so it still could be a good pet for a number of years b4 u hav to let it go. DO consider an appropriate place to let it go..! other gars do get too big for a 300G too so it will basically end up the same.. u hav to let it go.
LOL..! actually ive never seen any other gars except for gators here in my place, so its some sort of a default to say alligator gar. gators dont actually grow that fast so it still could be a good pet for a number of years b4 u hav to let it go. DO consider an appropriate place to let it go..! other gars do get too big for a 300G too so it will basically end up the same.. u hav to let it go.
Well, no....
Alligator gars are the fastest growing gars around.
Alligator Gar-~24" in the first year, growth rates usually slow down at 36". in most home aquariums, this fish is usually stunted, only hitting a 3'-4' range. although 5'-6' is very possible given sufficient facilities. Very much stouter when compared to Lepisosteus Species. this is not an average home aquarium fish.
and gators are aggressive to any other species and will ost likely eradicate any other fish in the tank.
Our fish don't grow too big, our tank becomes too small! Plecofanatic Primitive fish Keeper : Florida Gar OscarFishLover!
. So you could try one of those out. They run about $20-30 depending on where you are. The only problem is that you can't find them very big and they grow slow so the oscars could eat him if the oscar grows fast enough. 
especially if you've seen it.
did a lil wiki and Noddy was right, it would make a quick snack of an O 