Oscar care guide
Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) — minimum tank 400 L, temperature 22-28 °C, pH 6-8.
Overview
The Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a large South American cichlid prized for its responsive, interactive behaviour and intelligence. It develops a powerful adult body with bold black, orange and red mottling; selectively bred Tiger, Red and Albino forms are widely traded.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Astronotus
- Scientific name: Astronotus ocellatus
- Common synonyms: Tiger Oscar, Velvet Cichlid
Habitat
Native to the Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná-Paraguay river basins of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, French Guiana and Uruguay. The species inhabits slow, warm sections of large rivers and floodplain lakes, sheltering among submerged wood and overhanging vegetation.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L (105.7 US gal)
- Adult size: 25-35 cm
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6-8
- GH: 5-20 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
A carnivore that takes small fishes, crustaceans and insects in the wild. In captivity it accepts high-quality cichlid pellets supplemented with frozen or thawed shrimp, mussel, earthworms and occasional gel foods; feeding live feeder fish is discouraged as it carries disease risk and offers poor nutrition.
Compatibility
Territorial and predatory; will eat any tank mate small enough to fit its mouth. Best kept singly or as an established bonded pair in a very large tank. Compatible only with large, robust cichlids of similar temperament such as Jack Dempsey, Firemouth and Silver Dollar, plus large Bristlenose or Common Pleco.
Breeding
A substrate spawner. A bonded pair excavates a flat rock or pit and lays several hundred eggs; both parents guard the clutch and fry, which become free-swimming after about a week. Sex is hard to determine outside spawning condition.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Wild populations are widespread and stable across the Amazon system and the species is also extensively captive-bred for the aquarium and food-fish trade.