Oscar Fish Size report
The origin of Oscar fish is the Amazon River Basin in Guyana, Venezuela, Peru, and Brazil in South America. They are fish that develop in the river plains on the outskirts of the Amazon. These fish are still found in lakes, streams, canals, and ponds in Florida, the United States, and other states.
Oscar Fish does not have high requirements for water quality and can normally live in weakly acidic, neutral, and slightly alkaline water. Although they are clumsy and slow, their predation responses are quick and accurate. Mainly feed on small fish, shrimps, and silk earthworms.
The brightly colored fish are invasive in these territories, and the law will punish anyone who introduces them into the local ecosystem. Oscar fish is also one of the common aquarium fish today. Are you interested in Oscar fish care, characteristics, and other facts? This article is in the right place.
Oscar Fish Basics
The Oscar fish is also known as the Tiger Oscar, Water Dog, Oscar Cichlid, etc. This cichlid is another extremely popular fish. Their popularity stems from their personality, compared to that of a puppy. They often beg around mealtimes. Oscar fish are considered aggressive fish; they are highly territorial as they defend their position but do not intimidate other fish, which will allow you to keep them with other fish in the aquarium.
Quick Facts
Common Name(s) | Oscar Fish, Tiger Oscar, Oscar Cichlid, Velvet Cichlid, Mabled Cichlid, Water Dog |
Scientific Name | Astronotus ocellatus |
Origin | South America |
Size | 8-16 inches |
Minimum Tank Size | 55 gallons |
Lifespan | 20 years |
Temperature | 72-80 °F (22-27 °C) |
Water pH | 6.0-7.5 |
Breeding | Breeding pair spawn eggs |
Food | Omnivorous diet (pellet food, freeze dried shrimp, live worms, peas, etc.) |
Appearance
The Oscar fish is oval, with a large mouth and broad fin rays. The anal fin is symmetrical with the dorsal fin. The male fin is longer than the tip, and the female is round; In Mature Oscar fish, the large black spots on the tail stalk are shaped like eyes, which can be used as a protective and lure color. The male and female characteristics of tuna are not obvious until they reach sexual maturity. A few color varieties of the Oscar include albino, olive-green, brown, and dark gray.
Average Size
The Oscar fish can grow quite large, usually 8-16 inches, and should be kept in 55 gallons or larger aquarium. It is said that Oscar fish can grow at a rate of 1 inch per month until they reach adulthood. If you don't have an ideal Oscar fish tank size, your fish will be at higher risk of disease and premature death.
Lifespan
An Oscar fish is a hardy fish and will live for a long time if you maintain good quality water in your aquarium. An Oscar fish can live for up to 20 years in ideal conditions. On average, Oscars will live between 10 and 20 years.
Tips for Oscar Fish Care
Oscar fish are known for the messy fish and require the best filtration system. Oscar fish produce a lot of waste, so frequent water changes are a given necessity, but the smaller the tank that you keep them in, the more frequently you will have to clean the water parameters. They will eat most flakes, pellets, frozen, freeze-dried and live foods, including any other fish they share a tank with that are small enough to fit in their mouths. Oscar Fish enjoys living in pairs or small groups. We recommend keeping at least 2, or even 5 if you have the space. They love to dig up plants and are also very good jumpers, so a heavy hood is necessary.