A few more oscar compatibility questions

[OinKY]

Problem with a Featherfin is it gets territorial as it grows.Loading up on bottomdwellers would make for a bit of powerplays for ideal hiding spots. You'd tie up a lot of tank space decorating to provide those in adequate numbers..
Pictus,while 6" max,are still snack size should an adult O decide to try it...then you get into the problem of the "hooks" on the end of their fins and how to get them out of the Os throat (experience,not fun). I don't recommend Pictus with adult Os,while they are fine with youngsters and juvis. Just something to think about in the long run.

[Nathan]

The problem that I see here is we're talking about this stocking in a 75 gallon tank. Personally I think an oscar and a pleco is all that size tank can handle, unless it is severely over filtered. Even then, a full-grown oscar will dwarf a 75 gallon tank.

You have to keep in mind that oscars have enormous appetites, and mouths to match. If it can fit in the oscar's mouth, the oscar will eat it. If it is smaller than the oscar, the oscar will try to eat it. A good rule of thumb to follow with oscars is this: If it is half the oscar's size or smaller, it's probably too small to keep with an oscar. Spiny eels are nice looking, but I rarely see any that are large enough to not be oscar food, and when I do see them, they're expensive. My lfs sells peacock eels for about $5, but they're about 3 inches long. A 4 inch oscar would have not problem eating several of those.

[josh7]

Okay then does anyone know if the pictus that "The Not-so-Smart Pet Store" sells are larger because they sell them as obtaining a max size of 10 inches or a re these just normal pictus cats.

[OinKY]

"Not so smart" is renowned for their inaccurate tags...plain fact.

"Spotted Pictus" is possibly Spotted Pim... all Pictus are spotted...and they have a total length of around 9"-10". Standard length is about 7.5"...that's tip of nose to base of tail fin.
All the Pimelodus have the same basic body shape and those long funky barbels...it comes down to size,coloration, and temperament as far as the differences in the species.

You need to get use to standard length versus total length when looking for tank mates. Standard length is much more important than total length...once they have the head in their mouth,the tail goes down easy.

[josh7]

I thought so i was just seeing if any one knew if these were diffrent i know most of them get about 6-7 inches.

[JohnL]

If your talking a juvi O I don't see why that wouldn't work. Just don't get too small an O he has to be large enough to hold his own.