Big problems, please help!

First post but please help! We got a tank about 4 months ago and got an angelfish, a yellow cichlid, some shark type of fish with a red tail. We also got some danios but they have all disappeared now and I didnt find any of their bodied so I think they were eaten. All was ok and we have had no poblems, but now the Oscar is attacking everything. He is getting quite big and the angelfish keeps hiding all the time in the plants.

Do oscars get mean as they get bigger and is he going to keep attacking all the other fish?

Please help as we dont know what to do!

Hello Bravo, and welcome to TFF. I'm sorry your first post is about a problem, but you have a bad mix of fish in there I think.

Oscars can grow huge and will eat anything they can get their big mouths round - it is probably where your missing fish went and he will probably go for the other fish in there too.

What size tank do you have? If you are going to try and keep this fish you will need a big tank, but they will uproot/destroy any plants etc that you put in there - your angel fish will run out of places to hide.

Have you any idea what the other type of cichlid is that you have. If you have a look in the cichlid section on this forum you may find a picture of one that it looks like. Have a look and let us know.

it may be that your oscar will need to be re homed

I think the tank is about 100 litres Diana. How big do Oscars grow to?

Unfortunately Oscars are one species that need to kept alone or with other equally large, hardy fish. When you bought it, you should've been told this at the time. It can grow to about 40cm and is definitely not a regular community fish as you've now found out to the detriment of your other fish.

Once it gets to about 20cm, it needs to be moved to a five foot tank otherwise it will just get more aggressive and you might have to consider rehoming it. If kept alone, it does make a lovely "pet" fish and I've read many stories of Oscars interacting with their owners, being hand fed etc. but it's personal preference really as to whether you want to make that commitment.

Oscars get HUGE and as Mary said really need at least about 40 gallons to themselves.

Suspect the oscar and angel have something to do with the vanishing fish - my oscar tried to eat a bichir just before we rehomed him.

The considered minimum for oscars is at least 90 gallons. You might want to think about re homing him as that tank is way to small! BTW do you know what kind of cichlid the yellow one is? to TFF by the way

Throw the oscar my way :lol: welcome to the forum btw and sorry you've had some bad advice

phishy07 wrote:

Throw the oscar my way :lol: welcome to the forum btw and sorry you've had some bad advice

Not literally i hope!!

nah not literally, obviously lol

Good cos that would be silly

Sorry to ask about this again, but how do I rehome him? I need to do something quickly because he keeps chasing the other fish in the tank, even the shark and I thought that would be able to look after itself.

I dont know what the yellow fish is, I think it is some sort of cichlid though - the pet shop said it was. Do I need to get rid of that one too. Which fish is allright to keep?

Hiya Bravo, have you asked the shop where you bought them if they will take them back? They might do if you dont want any money for them.

I am no expert on cichlids, but I believe that they are best kep in a tank on their own - not mixed with other species of fish. I have alse heard that Angelfish can be aggressive towards some other species too, so you have a bit of a bad mix I think.

Thanks Diana, looks like we are going to have to have a big rethink about this, thanks for all the information.

also, try the ad mag its free to list things and you'll defo get some money back on there for the oscar depending on his size

or aquarist classifieds

Take them all back to the LFS (local fish shop) assuming you bought them from a shop.
Sharks need massive tanks, as do Oscars (which has been said already) Also yes, Yellow cichlid (labidochromis caeruleas possibly) need a species tank, not mixed. Angels need a very tall tank with not very small tank mates. I'd definitely empty all of the fish out & start over. Post here what kinds of fish you like & there will be plenty of advice for you

munchycarrot wrote:

Take them all back to the LFS (local fish shop) assuming you bought them from a shop.
Sharks need massive tanks, as do Oscars (which has been said already) Also yes, Yellow cichlid (labidochromis caeruleas possibly) need a species tank, not mixed. Angels need a very tall tank with not very small tank mates. I'd definitely empty all of the fish out & start over. Post here what kinds of fish you like & there will be plenty of advice for you

OBEY MC