Oscars are a species of fish that has become increasingly popular in family aquariums. They are native to South America and can be found in the Amazon River basin, where they thrive in warm, shallow waters. Oscars are known for their vibrant colors and playful personalities, making them an ideal choice for those looking for a unique and entertaining pet.
Oscars are part of the Cichlid family, which includes other popular aquarium fish such as angelfish and discus. They are relatively easy to care for and can live up to 15 years with proper care. Oscars are omnivores, meaning they will eat both plant-based and meat-based foods.
Oscars are one of the most popular species of fish for freshwater aquariums. They are often included in larger starter aquariums, and are known for being quite active. They are a type of cichlid fish, originating in rivers in South America’s Amazon. They are known to be aggressive with each other and other fish species.
Because of their aggressive nature the Oscar is usually the first fish for the aquarium. We suggest that you pick its tank mates carefully to avoid having your entire aquarium eaten by your Oscar. This is why it’s generally a bad idea to introduce this fish to an existing aquarium as an afterthought.
They are nocturnal, which means they spend the day sleeping in a sheltered spot, and come out at night to hunt for food. For a family aquarium this could be a bit of a problem, but generally they will be alerted at feeding time by the splashing and movement of other fish in their tank
Though they are more aggressive than other tropical fish, they are still relatively easy to care for, because they are hardy fish and don’t need anything special to survive. When it comes time to feed them, Oscar will eat just about anything you give them, including flakes, frozen food, live food, and even vegetables.
They are very colorful, and have a wide variety of colors and patterns. Even after all of the warnings, many families can’t resist buying an Oscar because their coloring makes them a very attractive addition to almost any tank.
They are also very hardy and resilient, and will withstand a wide range of conditions without issue. Oscars can be purchased from pet stores, and will cost anywhere from $10-$20 per fish. Less common ones will range from $30 to over $100.
Oscars are very active and playful, making them a great choice for those looking for an interactive pet.
Overall, Oscars make great fish that are both beautiful and entertaining. With proper care, they can provide years of enjoyment and companionship. If you’re looking for a unique and interactive pet, an Oscar might be the perfect choice for you.
Information on Oscars
- Average Length: 10 – 12 inches
- Scale Colors: Black, Orange, Red or Lemon (with or without markings)
- Attention Needs: High
- Tolerance to Heat and Cold: Yes
- Good Pet: Yes!
- Good with Other Oscar: Yes
- Good with Other fish species: No, they are aggressive
- Good for Less Experienced Pet Owners: No
- Health Concerns: Septicemia, Fin Rot, Hole in the Head and White Spot Disease.
- Average Life Span: 10 to 15 years
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Physical Appearance of Oscars
Oscars have long oval-shaped bodies. They have long extended dorsal and anal fins that stretch along their body towards the caudal fin.
Oscars are known to get very long when they are fully grown. Baby Oscars may only be between 1 to 2 inches but they can grow very fast. They can grow an inch every month and may get up to 10 or 12 inches when they are fully grown.
The most commonly found Oscars have irregular markings of black and orange, which are called tiger Oscars. Years of selective breeding have also created many different color variations.
Lemon and red Oscars are other common types. Some Oscars can also have completely solid color bodies with black or white markings on their fins. These markings often have an eye-spot appearance which is called ocelli. Oscars can also be albino, with an all white body with red spots.
The spots or ocelli act as a defense mechanism for Oscars because it confuses the predators. Predators think it’s an eye, which makes it difficult for them to understand which way they will swim.
Baby Oscars and fully-matured Oscars tend to have a slightly different appearance. Baby Oscars have striped bands of orange or white on their body while adults do not.
An interesting feature of their appearance is that they can change colors. There can be several reasons why they might, which will be covered at the end of this article under related questions.
Temperament of Oscars
Oscars belong to the Cichlid family of fish species which are generally known to be aggressive. Oscars are naturally territorial and can be aggressive with other fish in their tank. They have been known to attack other fish, especially when the Oscars are mating or feeding.
They get along with other Oscars and like to stay in pairs or small groups. We recommend keeping them as a pair, or with as many as 5 together. Avoid keeping three Oscars because two may bond well and one might be left out.
They spend most of their time in the middle to top of their aquarium but may go to the bottom of the tank to look for food.
Oscars are active and are known to uproot plants and other decorations in their tank. All the decorations should be tightly attached to keep your fish from damaging them or moving them around.
Oscars are one of the most intelligent fish species. They seem to sense the surroundings outside their tank and are able to interact with their owners. The Oscars will waggle their tails, fins and heads when they see you approaching the tank. Because of this behavior they are often called “water dogs”.
Best Habitat for Oscars
A tank of around 55 gallons is the minimum size needed for this fish. If you are able to go with a 75 gallon or larger tank it will be better for their health. Water conditions that closely resemble their natural tropical conditions will help keep your Oscars healthy. They are found in slightly warm and slightly acidic to slightly alkaline water.
Tank size
3 to 5 baby Oscar fish can be kept in a small tank of 30 gallons but one fully matured Oscar will need at least 55 gallon tank. For every additional adult Oscar, they will need another 20 gallons. A community fish tank will need to be even larger to accommodate the space the other fish will need.
Temperature
They need a water temperature kept between 75°F and 80°F.
Water Hardness and pH
Oscars need water that is mostly neutral. The pH should be in the range of 6 to 7.5. The water hardness should be between 12 and 15 dH.
Tank Substrate
Oscars are scavengers and like to dig for food, and a soft substrate like sand should be used inside their tank. Avoid using a rough substrate like gravel because it can hurt them when they are digging.
Lighting
They don’t have any specific lighting needs and any type of regular aquarium lighting will do. Because other fish will usually need a typical daylight cycle we suggest using a timer to control the lighting in the tank to have a regular day and night cycle.
Decorations
Decorations like plants, rocks and driftwood help replicate their natural environment. Caves can also be added to create hiding places for the Oscars. Keep in mind that these fish can grow very large, up to 12 inches so the size of the decorations like rocks and caves should be added with their full size in mind. By planning for their eventual full size it will save you from the hassle of changing their decorations in the future once they have fully grown.
An important thing to keep in mind when adding decorations is to firmly attach all of them to the substrate. If you do not do this there is a good chance that your Oscars will uproot them. Not only the decorations, air pumps, water filters or any other tank equipment should be attached as well as possible. Oscars are known to damage things if they are not properly secured.
Tank conditions
These are large fish and will generate a lot of waste. It’s important to have a high-quality filtration system that can efficiently clean the waste from the water. A Canister filter is recommended because they are easy to use and also efficient at keeping the water clean.
Tank Maintenance
The tank temperature, alkalinity, pH and level of dissolved organic compounds should be measured daily. Oscars are large and tend to generate a lot more waste than smaller fish.
To keep the level of waste and toxic compounds under control, a water change of 20 to 30% should be performed every other week.
Best Tank Mates for Oscars
There are several things that need to be considered before getting a tank mate for your Oscars. These fish are large and tend to be aggressive. Avoid keeping smaller fish with them because they will chase or eat the smaller fish. We recommend adding fish that are about the same size or large enough that they won’t be eaten by your Oscars. The fish that you add should also be active and ready to compete for food, otherwise your Oscars may chase them away.
Another important thing to look into is the size of the tank. Because both the Oscars and their tank mates are going to be large, a very large tank will be needed. This will make sure all the fish in the tank have enough space for themselves and lessen the chances of fighting between them.
The best tank mates are:
- Silver Arowanas
- Blood Parrots
- Sailfin or Common Plecos
- Clown Loaches
- Bichirs
- Severum
- Convict Cichlids
- Silver Dollars
- Jack Dempsey
- Giant Gourami
Avoid adding snails and shrimp. Just like the smaller fish species, Oscars will just eat them.
Health Issues
These fish are hardy and generally do not get sick very often. Still they have been known to have the following diseases:
Hole in the Head
This is a common disease that is known to affect freshwater cichlids like Oscars. The disease results in cavity-like formations on the head and other parts of the body. Symptoms include stringy and white feces and faded coloring on their body. Infected fish sometimes tend to lose their appetite and become thin.
The hole in the head disease is generally caused by nutritional deficiencies and is easy to treat if detected early on. The best way to prevent your Oscars from getting the disease is to feed them a well-balanced diet.
Fin Rot
Fin Rot or Tail Rot is a common disease in freshwater fish. The disease results in the fins or the tails of the fish developing a white coloring or becoming tattered. In advanced stages the disease can also lead to the development of bloody patches near the fins. Fin Rot is caused by a fungal or bacterial infection which is a result of poor water conditions.
To prevent the spread of the disease, infected fish should be quarantined in a separate tank. The disease is generally treated using antibiotics. Consult your vet if you think your fish have this disease.
Septicemia
An open wound or injury on your fish that is left untreated can often result in a bacterial disease called Septicemia. The disease is highly contagious and fatal. Infected fish can have hemorrhages on the eyes, gills, body or at the base of the fins. It can also result in swollen abdomens, dark coloration or the eyes of the fish popping out. Sometimes infected fish will also swim abnormally.
One serious concern about Septicemia disease is that some infected fish may show no signs of the disease, yet they can potentially spread it to others in the tank.
If you notice any changes in the behavior or appearance of your fish it is always a good idea to consult your vet.
Ich or White Spot Disease
Ich is a common disease that can infect both freshwater and saltwater fish species. The disease is caused by a parasite that is capable of reproducing and multiplying rapidly. The most common way for the disease to enter your tank is while adding new plants, or fish and when giving Oscars live food. As a preventive measure you can quarantine new plants and fish in a separate tank before adding them to your Oscar fish tank.
Symptoms of the disease include:
- White spots on skin and gills
- Reddening of fins
- Loss of appetite
- Sitting at the bottom of the tank
- Rubbing the body against the tank
There are several ways to treat the disease, the most common being adding salt to the tank. It’s recommended that infected fish are treated in a separate treatment tank and then treat them. Another easy solution is to slightly increase the water temperature of the tank. Some antibiotic medications can also be used to treat White Spot Disease. If you find any signs of the disease in any of your fish, consult with your vet.
Feeding Oscars
Oscars are omnivores that feed on a variety of small insects, fish, crustaceans and small amounts of plant debris in their natural environment.
Captive raised Oscars can be fed commercial fish foods like pellets or flakes. These foods will give them most of the nutrients that they need. They can also be given frozen or live food like bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia (a type of small crustacean). Whenever possible try to give them live food. This will help them use some of their natural aggression as part of normal hunting behavior. If they can get their aggression out while eating, they should be less aggressive other times.
They need fiber in their diet which can be given to them by feeding them finely chopped kitchen vegetables or algae flakes.
They should be fed 2 to 3 times a day and only what they can finish within a few minutes. Make sure to feed them enough food. If they are not fed enough your Oscars will get aggressive and compete with each other when they are feeding.
Related Questions:
Why do Oscars Change Colors?
Baby Oscars are born with a somewhat dull coloration. As they grow, the coloration on their body becomes brighter. This is one reason for them to change colors and is a gradual and long process. They are also known to change colors depending on their mood. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact color that different moods can cause. Oscars tend to get brighter when they get aggressive or upset. Sometimes the color change can also be caused by poor water conditions or a disease like Ich.
Are Oscars Difficult to Keep for New Fish Tank Owners?
As already discussed, Oscars can get very large and are also quite aggressive. Their size and aggression makes it difficult for new fish tank owners to care for them. Selecting and keeping tank mates for them is also not easy. They need a large tank which can make it difficult for new fish tank owners to maintain.
Oscars along with their tank mates will generate a lot of waste. This waste will require more frequent and larger water changes than what is generally required for tanks with smaller fish. We only recommend these large fish to owners that can spend the time to make sure the water quality is maintained.