Oscar fishes can grow really bigger hence they need a larger aquarium. They require the best filtration system because they release ammonia when they breathe and excrete. They are difficult to maintain. Hence we need the beginners guide to help us with proper maintenance.
Oscar Fish – Overview
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Common Name | This fish is commonly called Velvet Cichlids. |
| Scientific Name | Their scientific name is Astronotus ocellatus. |
| Habitat or Origin | They are native to South America, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Columbia. Their habitat is slow-moving freshwater rivers. |
| Average Size | Oscars can grow really big. They can grow up to 12 inches. |
| Coloration | The common Oscar fishes are dark brown-gray color body with yellow, pale green, or gray stripes. The tiger Oscar Fishes have a dark brown-black body with red stripes. Veil Tail Oscar fish are from dark to albino. |
| Life Span | Their life span is around 20 years. However, they require a well-maintained tank for them to survive healthy. |
| Diet | In the wild, Oscars eat live food like insects, worms, smaller fishes, and berries that can fall into their place. Similarly in the tank, they tend to eat live small fishes and worms. Provide these fishes with mealworms, insects, and other commercial food like pellets. |
| Gender Identification | It is really difficult to tell the difference between male and female. We can only find the breeding pair only when they begin to breed. |
| Behavior | These fishes have the habit of jumping out of the tank. They also dig the gravel or the substrate and sometimes even uproot the plants from the substrate. They also tend to dislocate any objects that are in the substrate. |
| Compatibility | They can be with passive fishes like Arowanas, Convict Cichlids, Bichirs Sailfin Plecos, Severum, Silver Dollors, and Jack Dempseys. Oscars can be kept together but they need to have enough space for them to have their own territory. |
| Ideal Tank Conditions | The tank should have at least 75 gallons of water for one Oscar fish. They should have a proper filtration system that functions to oxygenate the water, remove ammonia, and other solid particles. |
| Water Parameters | The temperature of the water can be kept between 72 and 77 degree Fahrenheit. This can be made possible by using shatterproof aquarium heaters because normal glass heaters can be broken by the Oscars due to their behavior. The pH can be 7.2. |
| Breeding | Oscars breed by laying eggs. The female lays eggs and the male fertilizes them. After their fertilization, they safeguard their eggs really well until they hatch. |
| Common Diseases | Water molds disease or otherwise called Saprolegniosis is one of the most common diseases of freshwater fishes. These are caused by Oomycetes fungi. Hole in the head is caused by flagellate parasite Hexamita. Ich or white spot disease is caused by Ichthyophthirius. Fin and tail rot are another common diseases of Oscars. |
| Approximate Cost | Oscars are easily available in pet stores for $10. |
| What to look when buying | Just make sure these fishes do not have any signs of diseases. Though they can be treated, it is better to get fishes which are free of these diseases. |
| Species in the Market | The common Oscar fishes, tiger Oscar fishes and veil tail Oscar fishes are the most common species in the market. |
