african cichlids or oscars?

oscars

Not really. African cichlids have very specific water requirements and are best kept with other African cichlids from the same area. Lake Victoria cichlids, for example, should only be kept with Lake Victoria cichlids. You usually need to use crushed coral or Eco-complete substrate to get the pH above 8 and the water super hard. A variety of African cichlid buffers are available to help keep the pH stable if needed, but with a good substrate it usually stays constant. Oscars don't do well in this sort of water. Also, your Oscar might be 3 inches now but he's going to get huge. A 55 gallon will be good for a while, but you're going to have to start thinking in the 70+ gallon range long-term.

Oscars are cichlids and they can get quite large. I think Oscars tend to be a bit more friendly (as far as socializing with humans) but they can be VERY agressive with each other and other varieties of fish....often killing them.

The amount of fish you buy depends on the size of your tank. You do not want to overcrowd them. 1" of fish per gallon of water is the general rule. Oscars can get to be about 10"+ long. So make sure you have plenty of room.

Many pet stores will only give you partial credit for live fish returns...some will give you full credit for fish that have died. Depends on the pet store. Call them and see what their return policy is.

It depends on what is important to you.

I prefer africans as they are much, much more active than oscars. Oscars are very docile fish and typically just sit in a tank doing nothing.

Africans on the other hand are very active and seem to have a "personality" where oscars do not.

Also you can typically have 2-3 times the amount of africans as you can oscars due to the size of oscars.

I personally have an Oscar and my kids love him. He was only about an inch when I bought him three years ago. Now he is about8 or 9. He come up to the glass when I'm around. He knows who feeds him. He'll shy away if someone comes over to see him. He is so funny, but I am very glad I have him.

We have a red oscar thats about 8" long now. Its a 30 gal. tank.It is a very aggressive fish.It killed all the other fish we had

Keep the cichlids..... theyr'e not apossesion. they are a creature.. and they need love too... tis very stressful on fish when they are moved around fomr tank to tank too often, so keep them lov ethem and tkae care of them,a dn when you ahve more money then look into gettgin the oscars

Cichlids are better :) Petsmart would take them back and give you a refund, but not exchange them.

I would stick with the cichlids.Oscars are nice,but they get huge,and you need at least a 50 gallon tank for just one fish.And,because they eat so much,they foul their water quickly,which means a very powerful filter and regular 50% water changes.But in the end ,it's up to you,not us.

i love oscars.. they are awesome.. i cant wait to get another one.. get a small one.. and raise it to be a monster of a fish.. thats waht i did with my first one.. but i had to leave it in florida when i moved... and oscars do have a personality.. atleast mine did.. his name was george... i got him when he was about 1.5 inches long and raised him to over 9 inches long... :) in a 10 gallon aquarium.. seriously it was sweet