Tank mates for oscars

We checked oscars against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for oscars include electric blue acara, jack dempsey, siamese algae eater, rainbow shark, chinese algae eater and senegal bichir. Avoid betta fish, bronze corydoras and cherry shrimp: oscar can eat bettas: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Oscars: 23–27°C (73–81°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 30 cm (11.8 in), minimum tank 75 gallons (284 L). Full oscar care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (11)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (31)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase angelfish, which use the same area.
  • Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
    • Oscar may eat bristlenose plecos, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bristlenose plecos.
  • Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Oscar hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Bala shark · 230+ gal
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase bala sharks, which use the same area.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase blood parrot cichlids, which use the same area.
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase oscars, which use the same area.
  • Convict cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Oscar may eat convict cichlids, especially young or small ones.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Oscar may eat denison barbs, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller denison barbs.
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase denison barbs, which use the same area.
  • Dojo loach · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Oscar may eat firemouth cichlids, especially young or small ones.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Oscar hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
    • Oscar may eat pearl gouramis, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller pearl gouramis.
  • Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
    • Oscar may eat pictus catfish, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller pictus catfish.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Oscar may eat red-tail sharks, especially young or small ones.
  • Silver dollar · 75+ gal
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase silver dollars, which use the same area.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Oscar may eat three spot gouramis, especially young or small ones.
  • Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
    • Oscar may eat yoyo loaches, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller yoyo loaches.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • Oscar may eat african butterfly fish, especially young or small ones.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Oscar hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Oscar may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Green terror · 80+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase green terrors, which use the same area.
    • Green terror defends its patch of the tank and may chase oscars, which use the same area.
  • Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
    • Oscar may eat red rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller red rainbowfish.
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase red rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rubber lip plecos.
  • Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
    • Oscar may eat scissortail rasboras, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller scissortail rasboras.
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase severums, which use the same area.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase oscars, which use the same area.
  • Swordtail · 29+ gal
    • Oscar may eat swordtails, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller swordtails.
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase swordtails, which use the same area.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Oscar may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase tinfoil barbs, which use the same area.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Oscar may eat turquoise rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller turquoise rainbowfish.
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase turquoise rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Oscar hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller moonlight gouramis.

Avoid Bad tank mates (107)

  • Betta fish: Oscar can eat bettas: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bronze corydoras: Oscar can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cherry shrimp: Oscar eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Oscar 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Dwarf gourami: Oscar can eat dwarf gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Guppy: Oscar can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Neon tetra: Oscar can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Nerite snail: Oscar eats snails, including nerite snails.
  • Panda corydoras: Oscar can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Tiger barb: Oscar can eat tiger barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Zebra danio: Oscar can eat zebra danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • African dwarf frog: Oscar can eat African dwarf frogs.
  • Assassin snail: Oscar eats snails, including assassin snails.
  • Black skirt tetra: Oscar can eat black skirt tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish: Oscar can eat boesemani rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cardinal tetra: Oscar can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Celestial pearl danio: Oscar can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cherry barb: Oscar can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chili rasbora: Oscar can eat chili rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Oscar 23–27°C (73–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish: Oscar can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Oscar can eat electric yellow cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Oscars don't belong in that setup.
  • Ember tetra: Oscar can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • German blue ram: Oscar can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight tetra: Oscar can eat glowlight tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Harlequin rasbora: Oscar can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Hillstream loach: Oscar can eat hillstream loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Honey gourami: Oscar can eat honey gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Julii corydoras: Oscar can eat julii corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Kribensis: Oscar can eat kribensis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Kuhli loach: Oscar can eat kuhli loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Malaysian trumpet snail: Oscar eats snails, including Malaysian trumpet snails.
  • Molly: Oscar can eat mollies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Mystery snail: Oscar eats snails, including mystery snails.
  • Otocinclus: Oscar can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pea puffer: Oscar can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Oscars don't belong in that setup.
  • Peppered corydoras: Oscar can eat peppered corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Platy: Oscar can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pygmy corydoras: Oscar can eat pygmy corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Ramshorn snail: Oscar eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Oscars don't belong in that setup.
  • Rosy barb: Oscar can eat rosy barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rummy-nose tetra: Oscar can eat rummy-nose tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Sterbai corydoras: Oscar can eat sterbai corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Oscar 23–27°C (73–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F). Oscar can eat white cloud mountain minnows: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • X-ray tetra: Oscar can eat x-ray tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid: Oscar can eat Agassiz's dwarf cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black neon tetra: Oscar can eat black neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black phantom tetra: Oscar can eat black phantom tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bleeding heart tetra: Oscar can eat bleeding heart tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bloodfin tetra: Oscar can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bolivian ram: Oscar can eat Bolivian rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Buenos Aires tetra: Oscar can eat buenos Aires tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bumblebee catfish: Oscar can eat bumblebee catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Clown killifish: Oscar can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Clown pleco: Oscar can eat clown plecos: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cockatoo cichlid: Oscar can eat cockatoo cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Congo tetra: Oscar can eat Congo tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Oscar eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Oscar can eat demasoni cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Oscars don't belong in that setup.
  • Diamond tetra: Oscar can eat diamond tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dwarf chain loach: Oscar can eat dwarf chain loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Emerald green corydoras: Oscar can eat emerald green corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Emperor tetra: Oscar can eat emperor tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Endler's livebearer: Oscar can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Forktail blue-eye: Oscar can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Oscars don't belong in that setup.
  • Gardneri killifish: Oscar can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Giant danio: Oscar can eat giant danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glass catfish: Oscar can eat glass catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Gold barb: Oscar can eat gold barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Golden wonder killifish: Oscar can eat golden wonder killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Head and tail light tetra: Oscar can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Jewel cichlid: Oscar can eat jewel cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Kubotai rasbora: Oscar can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lambchop rasbora: Oscar can eat lambchop rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lemon tetra: Oscar can eat lemon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Marbled hatchetfish: Oscar can eat marbled hatchetfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Odessa barb: Oscar can eat odessa barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Panda garra: Oscar can eat panda garras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Paradise fish: Oscar can eat paradise fish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Peacock gudgeon: Oscar can eat peacock gudgeons: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Penguin tetra: Oscar can eat penguin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rabbit snail: Oscar eats snails, including rabbit snails.
  • Rosy loach: Oscar can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy tetra: Oscar can eat rosy tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Scarlet badis: Oscar can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Serpae tetra: Oscar can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Oscar can eat shell dweller cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Oscars don't belong in that setup.
  • Sparkling gourami: Oscar can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish: Oscar can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Upside-down catfish: Oscar can eat upside-down catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Zebra loach: Oscar can eat zebra loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Zebra pleco: Oscar can eat zebra plecos: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black ruby barb: Oscar can eat black ruby barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Checkerboard barb: Oscar can eat checkerboard barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dwarf rasbora: Oscar can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Flame tetra: Oscar can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight danio: Oscar can eat glowlight danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green neon tetra: Oscar can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Keyhole cichlid: Oscar can eat keyhole cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Least killifish: Oscar can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pearl danio: Oscar can eat pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Silvertip tetra: Oscar can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Thick-lipped gourami: Oscar can eat thick-lipped gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Variatus platy: Oscar can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with oscars?

Good tank mates for oscars include electric blue acara, jack dempsey, siamese algae eater, rainbow shark, chinese algae eater and senegal bichir. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat oscars.

Can oscars live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase angelfish, which use the same area.

Can oscars live with bettas?

No. Oscar can eat bettas: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Can oscars live with bristlenose plecos?

Sometimes, with care. Oscar may eat bristlenose plecos, especially young or small ones. Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bristlenose plecos.

Can oscars live with bronze corydoras?

No. Oscar can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.