Loaches Online Forum

A friend of mine is getting addicted to my loaches. However, he really loves oscars or a dempsey.

I have read the article about ciclids and loaches incompatability.

My friend just had a few questions.

1) He was wondering if these two species are compatible?

2) Or is there another type of loach that may be more suitable to live side by side with an Oscar?

3) If possible is there any type of fish similar to an oscar or dempsey that may be more compatable for loaches?

4) I noticed someone had a blue dempsey alongside larger clown loaches with no problems. If anything is it more advisable to get a smaller type dempsey that would be more compatible with loaches?

My friend will probably get my old 55 gallon tank once I upgrade to my 90 gallon. I don't believe he wants more than 4-5 fish in this tank so that they have room to grow.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. The only information I know is what I read in the ciclid/loach article on this site. So I wanted to direct this one to the pros...Thanks.

I have already informed him that ciclids are out of the question. However, he thought it might be worth asking. He is willing to part with the loaches over the oscar. I think he is more into that primal instinct idea of watching the feeder fish get chomped....lol

I think the article on this webpage is geared more towards the african cichlids, who come from very hard alkaline waters. This hard water doesn't suit most loaches well at all. Oscars are south american and should like softer water.

Although, they're known to be pretty variable in temperment. My feeling is that it's probably not going to work well since the oscar will end up being much bigger than the clowns (they grow alot faster) and often aren't the best tankmates.

I've always wanted an Oscar but from what I read, you should have 75 gallons for a single oscar and I haven't been willing to give a single fish that much tank space. Oscars grow big very fast.

I mix loaches with new world cichlids and they all seem to get on well. I would be careful about mixing small loaches with large aggressive cichlids, but it is not difficult. Many of the larger laoches can easily outrun and do circles round a cichlid.

If you want a peaceful and beautiful cichlid, I really recommend geophagus.

great guys thanks a ton. and i don't know if my friend is aware of the tank requirements for an oscar. i will definitely tell him to get a smaller type.

A 55 gal is really not big enouth for more fish than an Oscar and a small pleco. ( and pleco`s poo ALOT )

I have an Oscar with 6 Clown loachen for over a year now. they started out in a 325 liter and are now in a 660 Liter.

The Clowns take food out of the oscar`s mouth.

But mind you I DO NOT have a normal Oscar, I have alots of plants in the tank, and the tank is more set up with alots of hidding places for the Clowns with lots of wood.

The only thing I have seen the oscar do is spit gravel on the Clown`s wile they where sleeping in frount of the tank.

And the oscar tryed to eat my BN`s. they where to big. But he kill the BN`s all the same. Which he has live`d with all is live...

If your firend want`s to keep an Oscar and Clown`s then he\she will have to get a bigger tank. IMO !

I would also stress that Clown`s should have some size on them befor he gets a baby Oscar, and let them grow up together.

Alot of times a Oscar will like the tank mate`s he grows up with, BUT not always...... Mine did try to eat the BN`s......

Its a gamble, every Oscar is diffrent, you just never know......

I hope this help`s.

thanks for the input katt. from the way it sounds. he may have to choose between the oscar or the loaches. not only that, i don't believe that anything larger than a 55 gallon will suit his needs. the apartment he has now is small enough.

i had a 14" gibby i had to get rid of due to the size of my tank. i also now have one that was 3" a year ago and it has alarmingly grown to 9" now. That is twice or more the speed of my gibby that I had. of course i didn't start feeding my large gibby cucumber until 3 years ago. the 9" common pleco I have eats cucumber and veggies regularly. i am in shock right now bc i have owned a few plecos in my life but never seen one grow this fast. but eventually i may give him to the friend who has a giant pond. she needs 3 more plecos as well so it should workout well.

i am also throwing in my golden algae eater back with the loaches when the tank is upgraded. i have him in a small 35 gallon and he is around 4" as well. i don't think he will get much bigger and he is much less aggressive than the other gae's i have seen and dealt with. right now the gae is buddy buddy with all the small albino cories in the tetra tank.

Well IMO the 55 is still to small for CL`s lol

He could have a lone Oscar just fine and a pleco.

I see in my 200x55x60 the CLs go full speed and I still feel they really should have a longer tank lol But I just don`t have the room for a longer tank.

I hope you tell him that CL`s are all wild and to think hard befor he gets any....

A full grown Oscar will eat up to $20.00 US a week and break the heaters for fun and get there in 2-3 years. They are an invasive specie in Florida here now. Stay away

yeah i don't know if hes going with clowns either. its all in the air right now.

A 55 is a bare minimum for a few juvie Clowns, but they'll need an upgrade to something far bigger. For an Oscar it's a very temporary enclosure because one will outgrow it in no time.

Your friend needs to look at smaller species of Botia and forget an Oscar.

Martin.

yeah would it be suitable for a few striata? i have a 55 now but its upgrading to a 90 in the next month or so. can't wait!!!


my friend hasn't really decided what type of botia right now. i was thinking striata bc i read they only get 2" max. but really right now its all up in the air. its just a brain storming exercise now.

yeah i told him beforehand to forget the oscar as well. but he just wanted me to ask. it didn't hurt asking. we kinda already knew the answer..

katt, i know how you feel. i am only suppposed to have a 40 gallon max. but im getting a 90 soon! hope they don't see it...