Overview

The Oscar is an ornamental variant of the popular Astronotus ocellatus Oscar. With its elegant, flowing fins, the Oscar makes a colorful and active addition to a large aquarium.

The Oscar requires a large aquarium of at least 350L with a deep sand bottom and a few large rocks. They will dig up plants so any plants that are in the aquarium should be potted with the root surfaces covered with rocks. Using floating plants is a good compromise to this problem. Tiny Oscars form a tight cluster for protection and this is normal behavior for juvenile fish. Large Oscars are not as territorial as most other cichlids when full grown but will consume anything they can fit into their mouths.

A large aquarium should be used for breeding, as large as 400L if possible. Oscars will spawn in soft or hard water as long as it is clean and clear and has a temperature between 79-86°F. It is hard to tell the difference between the male and females, but during spawning the female has obvious genital papilla. The female will lay from 1,000-2,000 eggs on rocks that have been carefully cleaned. The eggs are opaque at first, turning transparent in 24 hours. The brood will be carefully guarded and cared for and the fry will be kept in pits and may even be covered. When they are free-swimming, the fry should be fed Cyclops. Sometimes the fry will cling to their parents.

The Oscar is a carnivore that is a predaceous and hearty eater. Oscars will eat a variety of meaty foods, including small fish and earthworms, Cichlid pellets, larger flake food, ocean plankton, bloodworms, and tubifex worms.

Care
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi - Aggressive
Colour Form: Assorted
Diet: Carnivore
Max Size: 25cm
Origin: South America
Family: Cichlidae
Tank Size: 350L
Temperature: 23 - 30c
pH: 6.0 - 8.0



*Product Photo is for reference only. Exact fish may vary in size and colour.