Preface: I am an active aquarist who loves fish and see fish as pets just like cats and dogs and I hate seeing them mistreated.


On that note I went to a home and rescue 3 Oscars from a family that had them living in a very cramped 60gal aquarium with about 6 other fish. "When we got them they were soooo small. Yes they were, and I bet the guy at Petco or Petsmart didn't tell you they would get to be in the neighborhood of 12-15". Also, the Green Terror and the Jack Dempsy you have, while only 3-4" respectively, will also be in the neighborhood of 9-12".


If you are going to buy fish, KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING, and all the requirements they need, food, tank size, tankmates. And fuck the guys at the big box stores, they are only trying to make a profit. I have only been asked once while in the fish section whether or not the tank I had was suitable for the fish I was considering. I see too many posts only CL about people either selling tanks that way overstocked with fish that are either not suitable to be together or too large for the tank they are in. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 

We had an Oscar growing up. He got HUGE. He was in his own big tank...well, I think there was a sucker fish in with him and he even got too big for us to care for properly. I think my parents just bought my brother whatever fish he wanted at the pet store. Obviously not a good idea. We ended up giving him up to the aquarium place near where we lived (not a pet store.) Fish really are a lot of work. Awesome to look at, but I will probably never own one myself, 

I eat fish. I don't eat dogs or cats. 

My dad spent $6000 on a tank and set up...I found it a waste of money but he felt it was needed for the kind of fish he wanted. Fish are made for lakes and oceans not $6000 tanks ;)