A few more oscar compatibility questions

[josh7]

would there be any issues if i put 3 peacock eels a green phantom pleco and a oscar in a 75 gallon or is the eels and oscar asking for trouble.

[JohnL]

The L200 pleco would be fine but I don't know about the eels. They might become a snack for the O.

[josh7]

Okay the eels will be about 7-8 inches when I get them I guess i will wait for some more opinions.

[OinKY]

Spiny Eels (Peacock,Fire,Tire Track,etc) need a fine substrate to burrow in (or tight fitting caves). They are scaleless,so their skin is easily damaged and can get skin infections (mostly fungal) quickly if kept with gravel,sharp objects,or rowdy tank mates.
They are an acceptable tank mate with Os if started when an O is young,you have a soft substrate,and an adequate size tank to house them. Three of them in a 75g is a bit tight as they can potentially make 12" if properly cared for...their water chemistry needs match an O's.
One problem,if you decide to try one,is their usual shyness about eating.They are easily out competed for food by more gluttonous eaters (like Os)...especially since they have the same diets meat-wise.Might get one that's more outgoing and competitive,but they are still usually shy first thing in a tank and might stay that way with a more outgoing fish in there.

Last thing,they are escape artists. Good lids on the tank...no gaps.

[josh7]

Okay if i tried 2 of them instead is that better and if i introduced them first and got them eating foods would feed in the night would that be good the o would be only 2 inches when i first got it.

[OinKY]

Doable with planning. The O needs to be big enough not to be eaten during the night if starting with larger Peacocks,but not so large as to not "respect" the Peacocks and pick at them...2" to 3" should be about right with 6"-8" Eels.

As you noted,they are more nocturnal. So an issue that may come up later is their movements might cause "night frights" that send the O crashing about the tank...so something else to take into consideration.
It's a start in a 75g,but think you will eventually need to move up in tank size to a larger footprint tank (at least length) because asking 3 12" fish (plus Pleco) to share 4' of length is going to add up to someone getting injured...even just accidentally...as it's just enough room to build up a head of steam and hit the wall running. Spiny Eels are notorius for damaging their snouts when hitting and Os can give themselves nasty concussions/contusions.You can overcome that with length and by "splitting" decor so that opposite ends have areas more favorable to the other (ie.,deeper sand/plants on one end,gravel/driftwood on the other).Not that paths won't cross while exploring the tank but it'll keep misunderstandings to a minimum.

[josh7]

Okay if i dropped it 2 eels does that help at all.

[OinKY]

Not sure I understand...drop it to just one Eel and the O or just Eels alone (since we were talking about two Eels)?

[josh7]

Thats what i meant was just one eel i saw another eel species called a tiretrack eel would a tiretrack eel, green phantom plec, and o be fine in the 75 or could i do a fire eel instead of the tiretrack eel.

[OinKY]

Talking Fire or Tire Track you are talking big Spiny Eels...almost as long as the 75g when adult...so more suitable once you start talking 125+g tanks (at least 6' tank).
There are smaller Spiny Eels...like Half-Banded...

that stay a smaller size,more outgoing,and are actually colonial (liking being in numbers). Even at an adult size of 8"-10" max they are still good candidates for the number you want and won't push the size of needed tank for a while longer than your other choices.They are hardier in what they can handle too.

That or go with one Peacock Eel.

[josh7]

Okay i think i will go with 3 half banded eels then.

[josh7]

I have a couple more questions if i got one oscar could i do something like 3 pictus cats, 1 featherfin squeaker and some type of dither fish in the 75 i appreciate all of your guys help.

[Angie]

IF the oscar is raised with them the odds are better. But be ready to remove fish or re home fish if this does not work.

[OinKY]

JMO,but think if you want the O to be a large,healthy,centerpiece of the tank then you need to look at dedicating more volume to it specifically.
The O and a single catfish (some type bigger than Pictus) plus 3-5 dithers (depending on species) would make for an attractive,active tank.

If open to suggestions,I'd offer up...
Ornate Pim (Pimelodus ornatus) for a catfish...and...
Spotted SD (Meytinnis maculatus),3 for dithers to go with your O.

[josh7]

well could i just do all catfish and the O like the 3 spotted pictus cats I already have 2 adults at 5 inches and could get one from a freind thats 4 inches and a featherfin squeaker catfish.