Oscar fish come in many types and have a unique personality. Before getting one as a pet you have to consider the tank size, the level of care they need and their tank mates.
The Oscar fish belongs to the chichlid family and its scientific name is Astronotus Ocellatus. It is a tropical freshwater fish native to Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru and according to wikipedia occurs in the Amazon River Basin.
As an aquarium fish it's one of the most popular because it has many types and can also show intelligence, hence its nickname “water dog”. Other common names are Marble chichlid, Oscar Chichlid, Oscar, Tiger Oscar.
Types Of Oscar Fish
Some of the most popular types of Oscar fish are:
- Red Oscar fish: mix of black and red/orange
- Tiger or Marble Oscar fish: with tiger-like patterns
- Albino Oscar fish: white in color with red or orange spots
- Black Oscar fish: black with light banding across their bodies
- White Oscar fish:white with shades of pink.
- Lemon Oscar fish: white with a yellow hue
- Green Oscar fish: mostly green body with yellow and black patterns
- Blue Oscar fish: mix of blue and orange/red
Relative article from tankarium.com: 15 types of oscar fish
How big do Oscar fish get?
In captivity, Oscar fish will grow to about 11 to 12 inches in length (that's about 30 centimeters).
How long do pet Oscar fish live?
A well-cared Oscar will live 10 to 20 years.
Are Oscar fish good pets? Temperament and personality.
The Oscar fish is also known as “water dog” because it displays high intelligence (compared with other fish), curiosity, social skills and can easily bond and interact with its owner.
You may reach the point when it will come towards you when it sees you entering the room and accept food straight from your hand or even let you pet it.
Oscars are also very beautiful fish with many different color types and gorgeous fins. You will spend many hours just watching them calmly swim around the aquarium.
Is oscar an aggressive fish?
However, don't be fooled by their graceful way of swimming. Oscar fish are very territorial and will be very aggressive towards other fish. This means that they will attack and fight with other tank mates, a behavior which will be more intense when their space is small.
How many Oscar fish can stay together?
If you plan on having more than one oscar fish, then it's best to get them in pairs. If you get three, then there's a possibillity that the two of them will bond and become aggressive towards the third one.
Having lots of space available will help minimize any quarrels inside the aquarium. The general rule is to have at least 55 to 60 gallons for the first fish and then add 35-50 gallons for each additional fish.
Suitable tank mates
Because Oscar fish have an aggressive temperament, having an aquarium without any other species inside is sometimes advised because this way you will have less quarrels.
If you want to have a variety of fish, choose species that are about the same size and with similar needs. In most cases Oscars get along well with fellow chichlids. Some possible tank mates are:
- Green Terror Cichlid
- Convict Cichlid
- Jaguar Cichlid
- Firemouth Cichlid
- Bichirs
- Jack Dempseys
- Parrot Fish
- Bala Shark
- Clown Loaches
- Silver Dollar Fish
You can find more information in this article from smartaquariumguide.com: Best Oscar fish tank mates
Incompatible tank mates for Oscars
In any case avoid having smaller fish and invertebrates (such as shrimp) in the tank because they'll get eaten very quickly. Beta fish and other aggressive fish are also not a good idea.
Are Oscar fish good for beginners?
Oscar fish are more suitable for experienced hobbists. They 're not good for beginners because:
- They produce a lot of waste which means they require a lot of care and more expensive filtration system.
- They can be aggressive towards their species.
- They don't get along well with many other fish and will eat the smaller fish and invertebrates of the aquarium.
- They're sensitive to PH and temperature changes in the water.
What Can I Feed My Oscar?
Oscar fish are omnivores which means they eat a variety of foods, both animal and plant origin. However thei diet consisits mainly of meat and vegetables and fruits can be given once a week. Below there's a list with suitable food for Oscar chichlids.
- Mealworms/bloodworms
- Crickets
- Chichlid pellets or flakes
- Fresh or frozen shrimp
- Fresh or frozen scallops and clams
- Fresh or frozen snails
- Frozen peas
- Spinach and lettuce
- cucumber
- Bananas, oranges, watermelon
- chopped fresh or frozen fish
For the frozen food: rinse it under cold water for a few seconds just before feeding time.
How Often Should I Feed My Oscar?
This will depend on their size. Oscar fish especially large ones can stay without food for several days. Below you can see the feeding schedule depending on their size but keep in mind that you may have to adjust it to your fish needs.
Oscars are very competitive and this means they'll try to eat as mush as they can with the risk of gaining too much weight.
Oscars less than 3 inches long: feed 3 times per day
Oscars between 3 and 6 inches: feed 2 times per day
Oscars larger than 6 inches: feed once a day or 4-5 times per week.
How to feed
Give your fish as much food as it can eat within 2 minutes. Offer it in small quantities and wait until it swallows it all.Then offer some more until the 2 minutes pass.
Gender Differences
Because Oscars are monomorphic, meaning that the male and female don't have any visual differences externally, it can be very difficult to tell their gender.
The only way to do that is by looking at their genital area close to their tail, when the fish is one year old or older. But even then, it can be confusing for someone without a lot of experience.
If you want to try, then you will notice that the male will have 2 holes, about similar in size. The one will be for pooping and the other one will be for fertilizing the eggs. The hole used for fertilizing the eggs can look like a small spike.
The female will also have 2 holes. The one will be for pooping and the other one will be for laying eggs. This “egg tube” will be larger but it can also be fully retracted inside when it's not breeding season.
Habitat and Tank Requirements
What’s The Best Aquarium Size For Oscar Fish?
As written earlier, Oscars can get territorial and aggressive, especially if their space is small and they have to share it with other tank mates. This can also cause them stress which may lead to health problems.
This means that the aquarium (tank) should be at least 55 gallons (200 lt) for one fish. If you have the possibility to get a larger tank it will be even better. For every other fish you add to the aquarium you have to add 35-50 gallons.
Here’s a rough guide you can follow:
- 1 Oscar fish: 55 - 60 gallons minimum (208-230 lt)
- 2 Oscar fish: 90 - 100 gallons (340-380 lt)
- 3 Oscar fish: 130 gallons (490 lt) – however keeping 3 Oscars is not advised, it's better to keep 2 or 4
- For each additional fish, add 35 gallons (130 lt)
The Best Type Of Substrate
Try to mimic Oscars natural environment. For this puprose a sandy substrate with some gravel, scattered rocks and vegetation is best.
The filtration
Oscars are very messy and produce a lot of waste. They also like to take in substrate and spit it back out and they like to dig and move things around the tank. This can cause an extra burden to the filtration system.
A general rule is to get a filter capable to turn the volume of the water over 4 times per hour. Investing in a pre-filter for trapping the bigger aprticles can also help.
Plants And Decorations
Choose hardy plants that are firmly rooted because Oscar chichlids tend to dig them up. Java fern and Java moss is sometimes used. When searching for aquarium plants make sure to choose the ones that have similar water requirements (temperature and water hardness).
If your Oscars destroy the real plants you can consider getting fake ones.
Decorations like caves and hides will provide your pets plenty of spaces to feel safe and relaxed. They also have to be firmly fixed so that the fish can't move them around.
Another tip is to avoid coral, limestone and calcium-carbonate based minerals because they can alter the pH of the water.
What Water Temperature Do Oscars Require?
Because Oscar fish live in the Amazon River Basin it used to warm waters. The appropriate temperature of your aquarium should be between 74 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (23 – 28 degrees Celsius) and the PH levels should be between 6 and 7.2
Remember to use a dechlorinator every time you add fresh water to the tank because these fish are very sensitive to chlorine.
How much does an Oscar fish cost?
Oscar fish typically costs around $15.00- $30.00 per fish, depending on the size and color.
However, some fish with rare color patterns may cost a lot more.
You can find this article in Greek here. For more articles about pets check our categories page.
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