Oscars and tiger barbs are among some of the most common freshwater aquarium fish and can be found in pet stores and aquatic stores around the world. But while they are common, that doesn’t mean that they will make the best tank mates. So, can Oscars live with tiger barbs?
In short, these fish won’t exist harmoniously alongside one another. The main reason for this is that Oscars can get very big and since they are predatory fish, there is a very good chance that they will attack any smaller tank mates.
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In the wild, Oscars will typically feed on inverts but they have been known to try to eat a smaller fish, especially when they can easily fit the whole thing into their mouths; which would be the case when thinking about a tiger barb. Moreover, these ballsy fish have also been known to attempt to eat fish that are naturally far too big and that they cannot get into their mouth. Who said that they weren’t determined!
In some cases, bigger tiger barbs may become prey for the oscar who might attempt to eat it from the tail upwards. Even if the fish is too big, you are faced with the problem of it becoming stuck. The end result would almost certainly be the death of both fish, so it simply isn’t worth it.
So, if you’re keen to keep both species, we would have to suggest that you don’t do so in the same tank as it will more than likely end in disaster. It is possible to have separate tanks, provided you have the space in your home and it is in this environment that both species will thrive.
An Exception To The Rule
As with anything, there is a small exception to keeping tiger barbs and Oscars together and that is if you will only be doing it for a very short time. More importantly, you should only ever do this when your oscar is still very young. His mouth won’t be fully grown and so he would have trouble fitting a tiger barb inside it.
That said, you should also keep in mind that the oscar doesn’t hang around when it comes to growing and while one day you might have a baby, you’ll soon notice that your fish has had a growth spurt and is now chasing unwitting tiger barbs around the aquarium!
So, if you do want to pair these two fish for a very short time, we would always advise keeping your eye on the oscar’s growth and removing him should there be any sudden or significant changes.
What Are The Best Tank Mates For Tiger Barbs?
It is not much of a surprise that the tiger barb is one of the most sought-after freshwater fish in the world. It’s beautiful colors and patterns make it almost a tropical cousin of the saltwater clownfish; although, in reality, they aren’t at all related. It is simply the similar appearance that makes you think they might be.
Of course, keeping tiger barbs with larger carnivorous fish like Oscars is as good as handing them a death sentence. But if you are keen to pair your tiger barbs with other fish then the good news is that there are a lot of other species you can choose from.
Tinfoil barbs make excellent tank mates for the tiger barb and you will also find huge success when keeping them with things like silver dollars and Bala sharks.
Even more good news to follow is that these fish also make great tank mates for the oscar. So, if you have decided that an Oscar is the way forward you can add these fish without the worry of them being eaten. This is because they are schooling fish, which is also the case with the tiger barb but these species all grow a lot bigger so won’t attract the attention of a hungry oscar.
The coloration of these species is a little less attractive as they are mainly silver but they can make a stunning accent to the beautiful colors of your prize oscar as they glimmer and gleam in their small schools.
Things To Consider When Keeping Oscars With Tiger Barbs
As we have made it very clear that having Oscars and tiger barbs as tank mates is not always a good idea, we must also point out that, on the rare occasions you do this, the water conditions need to be just right. Fortunately, both of these fish have similar needs so you should be able to get the parameters pretty much spot on.
Water Hardness and pH
One of the most important parameters in any fish tank is the water hardness and pH level. However, in the case of Oscars and tiger barbs, you can kind of relax a little bit. This is because these fish are both incredibly popular in the home aquarium and so have developed a sort of resilience over the years. That isn’t to say that you could pop them in a bowl of tap water and hope for the best but they won’t get as stressed if the pH is slightly out of balance.
That said, it does depend on whether you are caring for captive-bred fish or ones that have been caught in the wild. The latter won’t have developed this resilience and will likely be much more sensitive to minute changes in the water, so always keep this in mind. The chances of getting a wild-caught oscar or tiger barb are very low but that isn’t to say that it’s impossible.
Temperature
If you are going to be housing your oscar and tiger barbs together for a short period of time, you will need to make sure that the water temperature is correct. There are a lot of pieces of information out there that give varying ideals when it comes to temperature but as a general rule, you will want to make sure that the water doesn’t fall below 22ºc and doesn’t go above 27ºc. This will meet the needs of both species.
Feeding
The tiger barb is an omnivore which means that it feeds on both plant and meat-based meals. Typically these fish will opt for things like invertebrates but have a very varied plant-based diet in the wild.
The oscar is also an omnivorous fish but it will tend to err more towards a meat-based diet where it can lead many to believe that it is a true carnivore. Usually, they will feast on invertebrates but it is not unheard of that they will eat smaller fish, like tiger barbs, as we have already learned.
In terms of plant-based foods, Oscars will go for things like fallen fruit that lands on the water surface as well as various water plants.
When kept in captivity, it is relatively easy to offer a diet that suits both animals and when their diet is kept to a high quality, you will find that both species are healthy and don’t tend to suffer from many problems. Feeding can be done using a regular commercial fish food as well as offering things like bug bites and bloodworms to ensure a good protein intake.
Conclusion
If you are a keen freshwater fish owner then you will likely have fallen in love with the tiger barb or the oscar; perhaps both. The bad news is that, as adults, these fish do not make ideal tank mates but while they are young and not fully grown, it may be possible to keep them together. Although you will need to keep a close eye on them.
