Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Cichlids > Large Cichlids - American > Oscars

Oscar

Tiger Oscar ~ Velvet Cichlid ~ Marble Cichlid Family: Cichlidae

• Puzzles
• Postcards

Astronotus ocellatus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Oscar is a popular fish that has been in demand for many years and is held in high esteem!

   A fish with great personality, the Oscar demonstrates unusually intelligence. They can be taught to roll over for food and can even learn to enjoy being petted. Sometimes they act prideful and sensitive or spoiled, moody, and demanding... behaving just like part of the family!

   Oscar cichlids are handsome fish. They quickly grow quite large, reaching up to a foot, and definitely command attention. Though not usually described as beautiful they are quite personable and attentive, giving them an almost puppy dog appeal.

   Their coloration along with very small scales gives them a velvety look. In earlier times they were actually referred to as the 'Velvet Cichlid'. Wild caught oscars are still popular and widely available but because oscars are readily bred, there are many varied color forms available. The most attractive of these is the Red Oscar, which has a red body and fewer blotchings than the wild caught.

   The Speckled Red Oscar with black fins is a more recent variety. Other popular tank bred varieties include the Tiger Oscar which is very similar to the wild form but with more red coloring, and the Red Tiger Oscar with marbled patches of red pigmentation. The Albino Tiger Oscar and the Albino Red Oscar are also more recent varieties. Then there are lutinos and long finned varieties. Some Oscars have even been artificially colored or 'painted' to increase their appeal.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Oscar was described by Agassiz in 1831. They are found in South America; the Amazon River Basin, the Parana, the Rio Paraguay, and the Rio Negro. They inhabit slow moving waters of rivers, canals and ponds with muddy or sandy bottoms, feeding on small fish, crayfish, worms and insect larvae.
   They have been introduced into natural waterways in China, Australia, and Florida USA as a by-product of the aquarium trade. Expansion into many non-native areas is somewhat restricted as they are intolerant of cooler water temperatures. They are a highly valued as a food fish in South America.

Status:
   This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The Oscar Cichlid has a rather oval shaped body and large thick lips. The wild caught species are typically dark colored with some orange around the gill area and on the sides towards the back, and an orange-ringed black spot at the base of the caudal fin. They can change colors rapidly when becoming territorial or combative. Juveniles have white and orange wavy bands or stripes and have spots on their heads. There are many varied color forms of captive bred Oscars. They can be marbled, mottled, blotched, red and black, all red, and all black.

Size - Weight:
   These fish get up to inches 12" (33 cm) in the wild, though usually a bit smaller in the aquarium. They grow very rapidly and will quickly outgrow a small aquarium.

Care and feeding:
   Since they are carnivorous Oscars prefer a variety of meaty foods. They will eat all types of live, dry, and frozen foods. They get quite large so they should be fed a high quality pelleted food and large chunk foods such as cut up beef heart and earthworms. They particularly enjoy fish and worms and are hearty eaters. Live guppies and then goldfish will also suffice when they get bigger.
   Though you can start younger oscars in a smaller aquarium, they grow quickly and will soon need a large home. A 30 gallon aquarium with very good maintenance and filtration is okay for juveniles, but a 100 gallon aquarium or larger is better for adults. They will need frequent water changes. Oscars do splash water in their enthusiasm for eating, so it is good to have the aquarium covered.
   These are curious fish that love to play, they will have definite ideas about the interior arrangement and will move things around. Rocks securely placed on the bottom work well while plants will be uprooted. Some suggestions are to put plants in pots with the roots covered with rocks, use plastic plants and securely anchor them on the bottom with silicone cement, or floating plants can work well. Because they like to explore, you can occasionally offer them a 'toy' such as a plastic ornament. Get several and rotate a new one in every so often.
   The only disease they are particularly vulnerable to is Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE), which use to be called "hole-in-the-head" disease. This looks like cavities or pits on the head and face. It is believed this may be a nutritional deficiency of one or more of: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. It is thought to be caused by a poor diet or lack of variety, lack of partial water changes, or over filtration with chemical media such as activated carbon.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 10° dGH
   Ph: 6.5 - 7.2
   Temp: 72 -77° F (22-25° C)

Social Behaviors:
   They are not a community fish. Though they are not belligerent to tank mates, they are predatory. If you start your aquarium with an assortment of fish, eventually you will have only one type of fish left, the Oscar. They will generally burrow and they will dig up plants.

Sexual Differences:
   They are difficult to sex. The easiest method is to obtain six to eight juveniles and let them pair off on their own as they reach sexual maturity.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Oscars are egg layers and open spawners. They forms pairs and will attach their eggs to rocks or the glass. They are excellent parents and both will tend the young, even chewing up food for the fry to eat.
   See the description of how these fish breed in Breeding Freshwater Fish for monogamist cichlids.

Buy Tiger Oscar From LiveAquaria.com

Buy Red Oscar From LiveAquaria.com

Availability:
   The Oscar is readily available, either as a wild caught fish or in tank bred color varieties. The are usually not very expensive, with juveniles ranging from about $5.00 - $20.00 USD depending on the variety. Adults range from about $20.00 - $40.00 USD.

Author: Clarice Brough, CFS

Add your comment here!
Click to see All the comments!
Click to see all of the coolest comments!
Latest Comments
I have 2 fish I was told are an african tiger oscar which is black and orange, and the other is orange and gold. Actually it looks how a cheese puff is coated with cheese powder. I am wondering just what kinds of oscars the might be. The black and orange one has scalloped tail and fins next to gill slit. He does have holes in head disease but I am making sure he gets a varied diet. He LOVES to flounce in the tank and sometimes hits the rock and wood dicorations and knocks off some scales. Oh yes, I have had the gold one since he was 2 inches long. He is now about 8-9 inches long. The other one I got from a friend when about 9 inches long. He is not 10-11 inches long. They are fun to watch and when kids come over, they are so surprised to see such big fish. I am the talk of the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I cant have any other fiah in the tank since they become meals for these two. I have them in a 45 gallon tank but am looking for a much larger one. Jenna 2009-06-29
I have an adult breeding pair of oscars, one's Lutino and the other a Tiger. They are in a 900 litre tank with a giant angelfish and small red-tailed shark. They have layed twice but have not successfully raised their fry. These are great fish which are fairly aggressive but can sometimes be sooks. They need a big tank and even bigger filtration. They create a lot of waste! I love my O's and and wouldn't trade them for another fish. Bianca 2009-06-17
I have 1 oscar, 2 red devils, 1 texas cichlid, 2 jack dempseys, and 1 algae fish. I got the oscar about 2 to 3 days ago, 6/5/09. All my are about 2 to 3 inches. I'm planning on getting another texas and oscar. My texas is the smallest the oscar is the second littlest one, the rest are the same size right now. One of my red devils keeps on bullying ever other fish except the small texas that's only like half an inch. Everytime he tries to bully him, he fights back, so the rd leaves him alone. But the oscar is the same way as the texas, kind of aggresive. All of my fish are territorial but the two small ones. which are the texas and the oscar, are the most territorial though. But they know there owner, when I come to do the tank they all just sit there and start doing tricks. williams 2009-06-13
I'm a big fan of oscars. Not bad man, a good personality and they grow fast. I've never grown oscars over 6 inches but it doesn't stop me from keeping such beautiful fish. Right now I need a 4 foot tank. I've kept oscars in 10, 25 and 40 gallon containers. I've notice 2 oscars jaw locking, tail slapping, and tail shaking, I would like to know if I have a pair, they are 3 to 2.5 inches. romario 2009-05-12
I've done it again! I recently acquired a 75 gallon aquarium from a military friend who was deploying, and as soon as I had it properly cycled with gravel and filter media from my other aquariums, I purchased two oscars to be housed in it: an Albino Red named Spanky and an Albino Tiger named Patches. Presently, they are both approximately three inches. I plan to maintain them in this aquarium, but eventually move them to my 125 gallon once my other oscars (Pyro and Damien) eventually pass on (hopefully not for many years). Although I maintain a multitude of several cichlids-Dempseys, Red Devils, Green Terrors, Convicts, Angels-I have officially designated myself a bonafide "oscarholic". I think I will gradually exchange my current stockage to only Oscars and Angels. My other 75 gallon, which currently houses a Red Devil, will soon be traded to friend for his Lutino. I am simply unable to resist their winning personalities! Tarah S. 2009-04-05
Some of the coolest comments:
I have always loved oscars since I was a young boy. My first oscar was a wild one caught in Miami FL. I was fishing with my brother and I caught a two inch baby with a net. I yelled to my brother "I caught a Oscar" I didn't know they had them in cannals in DADE COUNTY in 1984. I kept it in a bucket till I was to return to New York two days later. To make a long story short. I kept Tucco for 12 year and he grew to thirteen inches and lived in a 29gl, 55gl, 75gl tank. He was not all that colorful but full of sponk. He never bit me nor did he have any tankmates but everyday after school and work he would be so happy to see me or the food I was to give him and this went on for years, even when I moved out of my parents home. He never got sick cause I never fed him live foods only cichlid pellets or sticks. Oscars are a wonderful pet if you are willing to give them what they need and don't fall for the "they got to eat gold fish" thing. Tell the truth I always wanted to give Tucco goldfish but I was always scared he would get some sickness and I would lose my pet. I would get teased by my brother about this but tucco was mine and I raised him and he was my responsibility. I chose to take Him from his home in FL and bring him to NYC in a cooler even though my Dad said "he would die before we even got to VA". Tucco proved him very wrong. All in All if you have the time to raise an Oscar, wild or store bought, do it right. Feed it, water changes, stay away from live foods. You will have a very healthy pet and one that will in my opinion love you dearly for it. Oh and Tucco never had HITHD or any other sickness. Just fat and happy. R.I.P. Tucco. you are truly missed buddy. Pascal 2009-06-02
I've had an oscar for a few years now. They are a great fish with great personalities. I have a few tanks and my Oscar is my favourite. I find they aren't as hardy as other cichlids but with regular maitenance and a varied diet they are relatively easy to keep. Good tank mates are plecos, Silver Dollars and some cichlids. I recommend an oscar to anyone. They have a great personality. Callum 2008-11-12
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
Hello My Name is Dan. I own 2 oscars in a 20 gallon hexagon tank and man do i love them. i bought them at walmart one afternoon and i have been in love with them since. i am 17 so when i am doing my homework they just look at me and try and help me out. When it comes to feeding they are the very quick. Their names are bert (male) and earie (female). Bert is the white one and earie is the red one. they get along great! I havent bred them yet but on somedays it looks like they want to! lol~ Anyways if anyone is bored with looking at a goldfish get these fish. Go recycle 2 months of cans and bottles like i did and get these fish. They are great fish and this site helped me out with the preparation, so thanks for that! Dan 2006-04-26
great site, i loved the info. you guys gave me helped out a whole lot. my oscar has a couple of holes in his head, i hope he doesnt die cuz i know its frum lack of care. thnx again. Kevin 2006-02-15
This is a great helpful site... Thanks! Alan Alan Gray 2005-08-15

Back to Large Cichlids - American