PlanetCatfish.com

I've been raising a pleco, 2 gouramis, and 2 cories in the same 7 gallon tank for the past 6 months. Now, I'm getting a 55 gallon tank for 2 oscars. I fear that my pleco is outgrowing my current tank (already 5 inches long), and knowing that oscars create a lot of debris, I am thinking about moving the pleco in with the oscars. Would this be a wise decision?

I'd say it depends on the size of your oscars and the size of your pleco. A lot, if not the far majority, of oscar owners keep a pleco in their tank. Generally its a large pleco such as a common (Hypostomus punctatus) or sailfin (Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps). Occasionally you'll come across a bristlenose.

I have a currently keep a sailfin (~6") in with my oscars, the largest of which is about the size of the pleco. Since they've grown up together, the oscars don't really bother the sailfin. And due to the pleco's armor, he doesn't take much abuse anyways. When one of the oscars occasionally does pick on him, it usually results in a torn fin that heals within a day or so.

The key to having a chance of success with these combinations of fish is to introduce the pleco into the tank before or at the same time as the oscars and to make sure the pleco is bigger than the oscars. If the fish will fit in the oscar's mouth, chances are extremely good it'll get eaten. I recently lost a small Ancistrus this way. If the oscars are young (I'd say ~2" or so) and are introduced to the pleco with their new tank, you shouldn't have too much trouble as long as the pleco grows along with the oscars.

Hi!

I have seen a trio a Astronotus ocellatus "Iquitos" in a 2000l/ 500gal they were kept along with some crenicichla lucius, the catfish in there were some 8 inches Hypostomus sp , Liposarcus pardialis, a 5 inches Peckoltia cf brevis and 5in Dianema urostriata. All the fish cohabits peacefully....and the Oscars are easily 35cm/14in TL
Cheers
Yann

One thing I forgot to mention is that you might find that as your oscars grow, your 55g will become too cramped for them along with a large pleco. You might also want to check out a forum dedicated to oscars. There are a number of them around, such as Oscarfish and Oscars-r-us. Good luck.