Can oscars live with apistogramma?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and apistogramma should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches apistogramma do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches apistogramma do.
What works
- Both are fine at 75–81°F.
- pH 6–7 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, apistogramma the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Apistogramma | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 75–84 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 5–7 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 3.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 20 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for apistogramma
Questions
Can oscars live with apistogramma?
No. Oscars and apistogramma should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches apistogramma do.
What temperature suits both oscars and apistogramma?
75–81 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, apistogramma need 75–84 °F.
What size tank do oscars and apistogramma need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.