Oscar Fish

Astronatus ocellatus

The oscar fish is a rambunctious tropical South American cichlid which will outlive many smaller species. They are also known as the velvet cichlid due to an apparent visual texture.

Oscar Fish Descrption

The oscar cichlid is renowned for it's strong personality. Far from being a timid fish, they will learn to recognise their owner and accept fish food directly from the hand. Astronatus ocellatus have an oval shape when the body and fins are viewed in profile. Although many colour forms have been developed, the original tiger oscar fish variety is still very popular. It consists of a chocolate brown base with crimson to orange markings which form bars, circles and splotches.

Red oscar fish are also popular. In this colour form the red colour forms a large patch on each side of the body.

The albino oscar fish retains the reddish markings but the brown is replaced with ivory white.

Recent aquarium developments have included a blue oscar fish.

Oscar Fish Care

An oscar fish tank should always be as large as possible. The aquarium glass in a small aquarium can be smashed when a large oscar becomes frustrated. Oscar aquarium fish companions should be chosen from other large cichlids that are not overtly aggressive. Feed them on a high protein diet including cichlid pellets and live food

Breeding Oscar Fish

As oscars usually show no sexual differences, the only non evasive sexing technique is observation during spawning. When the female is ripe and the pair are ready the ovipositor will become visible on the female.

These fish forms a life long bond with it's chosen mate. The accepted method for breeding oscar fish is to raise several individuals together and let them choose a partner fish for themselves. Six is a practical minimum allowing a fair chance for both sexes to be present.

Family - Chichlidae

Size - Up to 35 cm

Fish Origin - South America

Water - Water conditions not crucial but avoid extremes

Temperature - 22-26°C

Feeding - Protein food such as general cichlid pellet

Sexing - No external visible differences

Breeding - Grow several individuals together so that partnerships can be formed.

Aquarium - Not for community tanks containing fish that will fit in an Oscar's mouth



An example of the albino Oscar cichlid.



This light coloured oscar snaps at it's owner 's hand.

 

Two large oscar cichlids lock jaws in an underwater dual.



Oscars often enjoy eating live earth worms.



A red oscar cichlid showing it's mean streak.

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