If you want to raise a unique fin buddy, the oscar fish is ready to impress you. It will melt your heart with its cute excited responses to your presence!
The species will intrigue you with its distinct intelligence by remembering close ones’ faces. It’s also extremely popular in the aquarium trade for its non-demanding nature during mealtime.
So, if you want to add one to your collection, keep reading!
Species Overview
| Origin | West Amazon and Orinoco basins, South America; Introduced in other areas |
| Order | Perciformes |
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Scientific Name | Astronotus ocellatus |
| Common Names | Oscar fish, Velvet Cichlid, Red Oscar, Tiger Oscar, Marble Cichlid |
| IUCN Red List Status | Not Evaluated |
| Appearance | Oval stocky body, symmetrical and standard-sized fins, large and thick lips, eye spots on either side of caudal peduncle |
| Size | 24 cm (9.5 in) or more |
| Maximum Reported Weight | 3.5 lb (1.6 kg) |
| Lifespan | Up to 10-15 years in captivity; Up to 20 years in the wild |
| Temperament | Slightly aggressive, much more docile than most cichlids, territorial |
| Tank Level | Middle-level dwellers |
| Water Temperature | 72-82 °F (22-28 °C) |
| pH Level | 6.0-7.5 |
| Water Hardness | 5-19 dGH |
| Care Level | Intermediate |
| Minimum Tank Size | 75 gallons for one adult, 150 gallons for two |
| Tank Environment | Spacious tank with minimal decor |
| Diet | Omnivore with carnivorous inclination |
| Tank Mates | Other oscars, cichlids, and similarly-sized top or bottom-dwelling species |
Natural Habitat
The oscar fish is naturally found in the western Amazon basins and Orinoco basins, South America. This mainly covers the nations of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, French Guiana, Uruguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
This stocky fish inhabits tropical waters with lots of logs and branches to hide from predators.
However, the species has been introduced to many new regions like Australia, South Florida in the USA, India, and China.
It is considered an invasive species owing to its high adaptability and colonizing habits.
Classification
The South American fish belongs to the Cichlidae family under the Perciformes order. While its taxonomical name is Astronotus ocellatus, it has many common names like oscar fish, tiger oscar, marble cichlid, velvet cichlid, and red oscar.
Moreover, it has varying local names depending on its origins.
Fun Fact: Oscars are popular as water or river dogs because they wag and shake their tail and head like dogs. They also get attached to their caretakers.
Appearance
If you’re keen on getting an oscar buddy, let’s first learn to identify the fish!
Size
An adult oscar is 24 cm (9.5 in) or longer and up to 35.6 cm (14 in) tall. However, the largest recorded one is 45.7 cm (18 in) long and the heaviest recorded fish is 1.6 kg (3.5 lb).
Color
There are about 15 variants of the oscar fish. Some variants also have much longer fins.
The most common ones are tiger oscar, wild oscar, red oscar, black oscar, lemon oscar, and albino oscar. And, of course, with each type, the color and patterns often change.
However, the tiger oscars are called the classics as they are the most popular in the trade. This type has a black body with sporadic orange spots and lines but no pattern from its upper lip to the front of the dorsal fin.
Features
The species has a torpedo-shaped oval body, thick and large lips, symmetrical standard-sized tail and anal fins, and large eyes devoid of patterns around them.
The cichlid usually has a large black spot with an orange ring. The spot is usually at one side at the base of its upper caudal peduncle. It is called eye spot or ocelli, and it confuses predators as to which is the head of the fish.
Some studies have also proven that the eye spots of the oscar fish help them in intraspecific communication during mating and intimidation.
The first gill arch of the fish doesn’t have a lobe. The short gill rakers are thick with multiple denticles. The base of the dorsal and anal fins have dense scales, while the fins have multiple branched rays.
Sexual Dimorphism
In wild-bred oscars, the males are visibly bigger and more colorful than the females. However, such clear distinction is almost impossible in tank-bred ones.
Some enthusiasts try to identify males and females based on differences in mating pairs. But this isn’t a viable method as sometimes, even two females mate. Others say that males have bigger eye spots than females.
The only sign is that the ovipositor in females becomes much more visible before and during mating season. Otherwise, it’s pretty hard to sexually differentiate this species.
Behavior & Temperament
Compared to most cichlids of similar size, oscar fish is known to be much calmer. But in general, the fish is moderately aggressive and can harm smaller species. In the end, this diurnal fish is still a predator.
It is also pretty territorial about its occupied space. According to my experience, sometimes, the fish may also sulk for no reason.
Lifespan
In captivity, the longevity of oscar fish varies from 10-15 years. But in the wild, the fish lives up to 20 years.
Author’s Note: Oscar fish often fades its color according to its surroundings, when it’s distressed, scared, or ashamed of losing a fight with conspecifics, and with age.
Tiger Oscar Fish Care
Now, if you can’t wait to have this expressive fish in your tank, then let’s prepare the best home for it.
Tank Size
You need an entire 75-gallon tank for one adult oscar fish and a 150-gallon tank for two. To get more, you must upgrade the size by 50 more gallons for each.
The fish needs to stay in a small and dispersed group or at least in pairs. If you get the young fish, you can adjust in a big 75-gallon tank.
Water Chemistry
To keep your pet fish healthy and happy for longer, you must always pay special attention to the water conditions and maintain these levels:
- pH Levels: 6.0-7.5
- Water Temperature: 72-82 °F (22-28 °C)
- Water Hardness: 5-19 dGH
- Ammonia: 0 ppm
- Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: Below 20 ppm
Tank Environment
Your next step is to create a suitable environment for the oscar fish to make it feel at home. So, follow these steps.
Substrate
Soft fine sand is the most suitable substrate for an oscar tank. You can also opt for smooth-surfaced gravel substrates.
Plants
The fish is popular for modifying its surroundings. So, it will try to uproot or nibble on most of the plants. So, only add strong rooted plants in the tank. If you want to add plastic plants, ensure they have a weight base.
Lighting
This cichlid thrives best on low to medium lights. So, make sure you keep the lights on only for 12 hours. You can also place the tank where it gets enough sunlight.
Décor
Decorate the tank with bogwood, driftwood, and a few branches. But other than that, make sure you don’t overcrowd the tank. The fish prefers open swimming spaces more than anything else.
Filtration
The fish can produce ammonia in the tank up to 30% of its own body weight. So, you must use a strong and efficient oxygenating filter to manage the water quality.
Water Flow Rate
Similar to this stocky cichlid’s natural habitat, you must maintain a slow to moderately high water flow rate in the tank with a water turnover rate of 4 times/hour.
Fish Care Tip: The fish is popular for throwing tantrums randomly by thrashing around in the water. It often scares petkeepers. If this happens often, instantly check for ideal water parameters. Don’t worry if everything is fine.
Food & Diet
The fish is a no-fuss omnivorous, i.e., it accepts everything you will feed it. However, it becomes delighted when fed carnivorous feed. So, to upkeep its good health, feed it a high-protein diet with these:
- Insects
- Crustaceans
- Small fish
- Whitebait
- Crickets
- River Shrimp
- Earthworms
- Cichlid pellets
- Plant matter
- Blanched vegetables like spinach, cucumber, peas, melon, or zucchini
- Fruits with high Vitamin C concentrations, like oranges or bananas
- Aquatic vegetation
Make sure you always stay within a limit, as this glutton will keep eating as long as you provide more. Avoid any mammal meat like chicken or beef heart. Never introduce livebearers or small goldfish as food because that may introduce diseases in the tank.
Tank Mates
Oscars may not be as aggressive as other cichlids, but they can be pretty sensitive during the mating season. They are also pretty finicky about their territories. So, you must only go for other oscars.
However, if you want some variety in your tank, you can always go for South American cichlids like these:
- Jack Dempsey
- Jaguar cichlids
- Convict cichlids
- Firemouth cichlids
- Green terror cichlids
- Blood parrot fish
However, some pretty rare compatible species with this one are:
- Bala sharks
- Plecostomus
- Red tail sharks
- Clown loaches
- Silver dollars
- Reedfish
- Black ghost knife fish
Tank Mates to Avoid
The oval cichlid will eat any small species that fits in its mouth, so never house smaller species with it like:
- Guppies
- Tetras
- Corydoras
- Shrimps
- Snails
It would be best if you also avoid the following types:
- Territorial fish from the same water level
- Aggressive species – Both species may try to injure or even kill each other
- Any similarly colored fish – Oscar fish might show aggression, thinking it’s a competitor
Common Diseases
With optimal care, the oscar fish can resist most diseases. But it is not entirely disease resistant, so beware and be prepared for the following:
| Disease Name | Causes | Symptoms | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | Protozoan Parasitic Infection | White spots, flashing, drowsiness, appetite loss | Add ich medicine or aquarium salt, raise the water temperature |
| Columnaris | Bacterial Infection | White or grey patches fin fraying, drowsiness, appetite loss | Improve water quality, reduce stress, add antibiotics |
| Fin rot | Bacterial Infection | Fin fraying, fin disintegrating, fin discoloration or redness, drowsiness, appetite loss | Improve water quality, remove physically injurious decor, add antibiotics |
| Hexamita | Protozoan Parasitic Infection | Color loss, red feces, hemorrhage around its head, large holes or sores, trailing mucus, drowsiness, appetite loss | Antifungal medicines |
| Pop-Eye | Infection from injury | Swollen and bulging eyes, cloudiness in one or both eyes | Perform water changes, add salt or antibiotics, improved diet |
| Dropsy | Infection, poor water, stress | Protruding scales, swollen belly, redness around vents and fins, ulcers, erratic swimming, no bowels or hard feces | Improved diet, regular partial water changes, add medicines |
Quick Tip: Always quarantine your sick oscar before treating it. Since the fish acts fussy and throws tantrums, it will lead to more fights with tank mates.
Breeding & Reproduction
Before you try to breed your oscar fish, know the following:
- It’s hard to differentiate them sexually.
- Even if you identify a male and a female, they must like each other to mate successfully.
- To get a promising mated pair of oscar fish, you must get a school of 6 or more, raise them together, and let them naturally pair.
- The mating pair must be at least 2 years old to be able to reproduce.
Once you clear this phase, follow these steps.
Tank Preparation
Prepare a large tank (150 gallons) with the dimmest lighting and flat and smooth rocks on the bottom. Since the fish lays its eggs on the substrate, flat stones will help.
Breeding Induction
Once the tank is prepared, introduce the pair to the tank. The species likes to mate during the rainy season, so mimic it with these steps:
- Perform 20-30% water changes every few days
- Lower the water temperature by 1-2 degrees
- Sprinkle dechlorinated water in the tank from above for 5-10 minutes multiple times daily.
- You can also get this done using spray bars to avoid manual work.
Mating Ritual
When the pair feels ready to mate, they will choose a spawning site and clean it. The female then lays opaque white eggs, which turn yellowish-orange within the next 24 hours. The unfertilized eggs will, however, stay white.
Sometimes, first-time oscar parents often eat their own eggs. But parental care is necessary for the eggs, so don’t separate the parent fish so soon. Usually, if they mate for the second time, they learn to take care of their eggs.
But, if they consume the eggs for the second time, you must separate the parents as soon as they spawn. Instead of the parents, you will have to simulate the fanning of the eggs.
Incubation & Fry Development
The eggs hatch after about 3 days, and the fry consumes its egg yolk. After 4 more days, they become free swimmers. The fry may stay hidden in the substrate until then.
To raise the young fish in the best condition, follow these steps:
- Feed the fry freshly hatched brine shrimp.
- Maintain the most pristine water conditions with daily water changes.
- Use a sponge filter to protect the young fish from getting sucked.
Breeding Tip: The female lays up to 2000 eggs, so if you plan to raise them all, be prepared to house them appropriately. Most amateurs discard this fish when they grow bigger. So, plan carefully on how to proceed.
Quick Buying Tips
- Buy the fish from a physical pet shop instead of online stores to check for any issues with the Oscar fish’s health.
- Make sure you observe it closely to check for skin irritation or dull colors.
- Don’t buy the fish if the aquarium in the pet store has dirty water.
A word from FIA
One of the best parts about having an Oscar fish is that you will give you the joy of having both – a dog and a fish. Its mannerisms will make you want to leave everything and interact with it all day long.
With that said, if you believe you’re a step closer to accommodating this colorful fish, then definitely share this link with other fish enthusiasts. And if you still have some questions, drop us a mail, and we’ll guide you through!