Questions about tiger Oscar?

I have two objections to you proposed Oscar tank, 1. The volume is only 56 gallons and 2. as tanks get taller the relationship between volume and surface area becomes less. Oxygen introduction (aka gas exchange) only happens at the surface of the water, and the taller the tank the less surface area compared to volume is available for gas exchange. This is not an ideal set-up for a large, somewhat messy fish.

Your tank would be poorly suited to a growing Oscar, and definitely too small for an adult. It's a really great tank, and should make a beautiful display, but it's not particularly well suited to one largish fish.

That tank is beautifully suited for an oscar, great size and filtration. As long as it's already been cycled, go right a head and get a little oscar. Unfortunately oscars grow really fast, about an inch a month for a full year, so at the end of the year you'll have a foot long fish and not really enough room.

So you can do one of two things. Simply upgrade to a larger tank in a year. Or go with the jack dempsey. JD's grow very slowly and even as an adult your tank is suitable.

Either way I think you'll be happy. They're both really fun fish to watch. Good luck!

Hello Jaden,

Honey, you have been told repeatedly that you need at least a 75 gallon tank for Oscars. I understand that they are very beautiful, but you don't want to get one and then have it die.

If you want to go with larger fish with personality. You might consider cichlids. There are many different varieties and can usually co-exist with other cichlids. Also they are mouth breeders, which is fascinating to watch. Easiest of the cichlids to keep is "convict cichlids". Very scrappy little fish!

A jack Dempsey will work in the size tank that you have but they are very, very aggressive and I doubt you will be able to keep anything else.

Anyway, forget the Oscars and good luck.

Just to add most cichlids..Oscars, dempsey....are all interactive with owners.

Go there: www.oscarfish.com