Can oscars live with black skirt tetras?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and black skirt tetras should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches black skirt tetras do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches black skirt tetras do.
- Watch outOscars grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for black skirt tetras.
What works
- Both are fine at 74–80°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Black skirt tetra | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 70–80 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 2.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 15 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Middle |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Groups of 6+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for black skirt tetras
All black skirt tetra tank mates
Questions
Can oscars live with black skirt tetras?
No. Oscars and black skirt tetras should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches black skirt tetras do.
What temperature suits both oscars and black skirt tetras?
74–80 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, black skirt tetras need 70–80 °F.
What size tank do oscars and black skirt tetras need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.