Can oscars live with discus?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and discus should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Oscars need 74–81°F, discus need 82–88°F.
What to watch
- Deal breakerNo shared temperature. Oscars need 74–81°F, discus need 82–88°F.
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar is twice the size of a discus and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
- Watch outOscars are much bigger and pushier than discus, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
What works
- pH 6–7 suits both.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Discus | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 82–88 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 5.5–7 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 6.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 55 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Middle |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Groups of 5+ |
| 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 discus
Questions
Can oscars live with discus?
No. Oscars and discus should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Oscars need 74–81°F, discus need 82–88°F.
What temperature suits both oscars and discus?
None. Oscars need 74–81 °F and discus need 82–88 °F, so the ranges do not meet.
What size tank do oscars and discus need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.