Oscar Tank Mates
Short answer: the best oscar tank mates are . Oscars need 68–82 °F (20–28 °C), pH 6–7.5 and at least 180 gallons.
Oscar care at a glance
| Adult size | 13.8 in (35 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 180 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Swims in | All levels |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Moderate |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (0)
⚠️ Possible with caution (0)
- None
❌ Not recommended (71)
- Cherry shrimp — Oscar will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Betta fish — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat betta fish (7 cm).
- Dwarf gourami — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat dwarf gourami (9 cm).
- Guppy — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat guppy (6 cm).
- Bristlenose pleco — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat bristlenose pleco (13 cm).
- Fancy goldfish — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful fancy goldfish.
- Harlequin rasbora — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat harlequin rasbora (5 cm).
- Molly — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat molly (10 cm).
- Neon tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat neon tetra (3.5 cm).
- Platy — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat platy (6 cm).
- Tiger barb — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat tiger barb (7 cm).
- Angelfish — Oscar is aggressive and much larger than angelfish; it will bully or injure it.
- Nerite snail — Oscar eats snails.
- Pea puffer — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat pea puffer (3 cm).
- Amano shrimp — Oscar will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Celestial pearl danio — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat celestial pearl danio (2.5 cm).
- Chili rasbora — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Ember tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat ember tetra (2 cm).
- Endler's livebearer — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Mystery snail — Oscar eats snails.
- Otocinclus — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat otocinclus (4 cm).
- Panda cory — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat panda cory (5 cm).
- Black skirt tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat black skirt tetra (6 cm).
- Bronze cory — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat bronze cory (7.5 cm).
- Cardinal tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat cardinal tetra (3.5 cm).
- Cherry barb — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat cherry barb (5 cm).
- German blue ram — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat German blue ram (5 cm).
- Glowlight tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat glowlight tetra (4 cm).
- Honey gourami — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat honey gourami (5.5 cm).
- Kuhli loach — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat kuhli loach (10 cm).
- Rummy nose tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat rummy nose tetra (5 cm).
- Serpae tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat serpae tetra (4.5 cm).
- White cloud mountain minnow — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat white cloud mountain minnow (4 cm).
- Zebra danio — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat zebra danio (5 cm).
- Kribensis — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat kribensis (10 cm).
- Pearl gourami — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat pearl gourami (12 cm).
- Swordtail — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat swordtail (14 cm).
- Three spot gourami — Oscar is aggressive and much larger than three spot gourami; it will bully or injure it.
- Electric yellow cichlid — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat electric yellow cichlid (10 cm).
- Discus — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful discus.
- Rainbow shark — Oscar is aggressive and much larger than rainbow shark; it will bully or injure it.
- Red tail shark — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat red tail shark (12.5 cm).
- Siamese algae eater — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful Siamese algae eater.
- Common pleco — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful common pleco.
- Clown loach — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loach.
- Pygmy cory — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Sparkling gourami — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat sparkling gourami (4 cm).
- Black neon tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat black neon tetra (4 cm).
- Bloodfin tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm).
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat cockatoo dwarf cichlid (8 cm).
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat dwarf neon rainbowfish (8 cm).
- Forktail blue-eye — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat forktail blue-eye (6 cm).
- Glass catfish — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat glass catfish (6.5 cm).
- Lemon tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat lemon tetra (5 cm).
- Paradise fish — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat paradise fish (10 cm).
- Peppered cory — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat peppered cory (7 cm).
- Sterbai cory — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat sterbai cory (7 cm).
- X-ray tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat X-ray tetra (4.5 cm).
- Buenos Aires tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Buenos Aires tetra (7 cm).
- Congo tetra — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Congo tetra (8.5 cm).
- Convict cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Gold barb — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat gold barb (7.5 cm).
- Odessa barb — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Odessa barb (6 cm).
- Rosy barb — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat rosy barb (14 cm).
- Upside-down catfish — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat upside-down catfish (10 cm).
- Firemouth cichlid — Oscar is aggressive and much larger than firemouth cichlid; it will bully or injure it.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Boesemani rainbowfish (11 cm).
- Bolivian ram — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Bolivian ram (8 cm).
- Chinese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Jack Dempsey — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Bala shark — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful bala shark.
How many oscars per tank?
Larger than the tank sizes we cover. — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with oscars?
Good matches include . They share a temperature range with oscars (68–82 °F (20–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with oscars?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Fancy goldfish.
What size tank do oscars need?
We recommend at least 180 US gallons for one oscar, more if you add tank mates.
Can oscars live alone?
Yes. Oscars do not need a group, though they can be kept with compatible tank mates.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.