Oscar Fish - Astronotus spp.

The Oscar fish is also known as the Red, Albino and Tiger Oscar. Originating in the waters of the Amazon, the Oscar fish is another extremely popular fish. Their popularity stems from their personality, which has been compared to that of a puppy. Many keepers experience begging around meal times or the seemingly playful greetings they receive from their fish when they get home.
There are a few color varieties of the Oscar Fish including albino, olive-green, brown and dark gray. They can get quite large, usually 12-14 inches and should be kept in a 75 gallon or larger aquarium. The Oscar is also known for being one of the more messy tropical fish to keep. Try to get the best filtration system possible for them and be prepared to perform frequent water changes. They are known to rearrange their environment from time to time and to bash in to filter uptake tubes and heaters. If you are wanting to keep live plants in an aquarium you may not want to get an Oscar because they love to dig up plants. They are also very good jumpers, so a heavy hood is a necessity.
The Oscar Fish 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 Picture

Oscar Fish

Scientific Name : Astronotus ocellatus
Common Names : Albino Oscar, Tiger and Red Oscar, Marbled Cichlid
Care Level : Easy, good for freshwater beginners with a large enough tank and those with an adequate aquarium filter and those willing to perform frequent partial water changes.
Size : 13 inches (33 cm)
pH : 6 - 8
Temperature : 72°F - 80°F (22°C - 27°C)
Water Hardness : 5° to 20° dH
Origin / Habitat : Amazon
Lifespan : 10 - 13 years
Oscar Fish Temperament / Behavior : They can be aggressive if not given a large enough aquarium.
Breeding Oscar Fish / Mating / Reproduction : They reach sexual maturity at 4 inches and will form life long pairs. Keep the water temperature around 82°F (28°C) and provide a spot for them to place the eggs. A large rock would work well.
Aquarium Size : 75 gallon or larger.
Oscar Fish Compatible Tank Mates : Not many - Bala Shark, Silver Dollar, Pleco and Jack Dempsey fish are some acceptable tank mates. However, don't put in any fish that are small enough to fit in the mouth of this fish.
Oscar Fish Disease : Freshwater Fish Disease
Diet / Foods : Omnivore, will eat flakes, pellets, freeze dried and live foods. Give them a varied diet with lots of protein.
Tank Region : All over
Gender : Can be difficult to determine. The female is usually smaller and less colorful than a male of the same age.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Parrot Cichlid

Image
Blood Red Parrot Cichlid, a Hybrid Cichlid   The Blood Red Parrot cichlid is an odd ball man made Hybrid that has stirred quite a bit of controversy in the fish world but has gained a huge popularity with many. Whether you approve of hybrid fish or not, these wonderful Blood Red Parrot Cichlids are here to stay. They are very compatable for a community tank as they are peaceful, curious and they interact well with their fish keepers once they get to know you. Blood Red Parrot fish should not be confused with the true Parrot Cichlid (Hoplarchus Psittacus) or the Salt Water Parrot (Callyodon Fasciatus). When choosing Blood Red Parrot fish you will notice that the baby Parrots are very dark with stripes. As they start to grow they change color quickly from dark to a mottled black and orange to a true solid Orange. This happens very quickly within the first four months. Parrot Cichlid History First created in Tiawan in the 1980's the Blood Red Parrot Cichlid
Read more

BREEDING ANGELFISH

Image
Common Name: Angelfish Scientific Name: Pterophyllum scalare Wild Distribution: Tributaries and basins. South America Length: Up to 6 inches Water Temperature: 74 to 83f If you are an avid fish breeder, you know what the angelfish is all about. If not, boy are you missing out! I can't think of anything much more rewarding than a prized pair of angelfish with their young. This fish teeters a hobbyist into a new realm of fish keeping.  Over the years, angelfish have taken many faces. Like the fancy guppy, they have jogged the genetic trail: silvers, marbles, gold marbles, leopards, blushers - the list goes on and on. For this reason it is difficult to give you a description.  Angelfish are from the cichlid family and can be very aggressive at times. Experience will tell you that there is a time and a place for angelfish in the community tank. As with most large fish, angels develop a personality. There's no comparing one to the next. Males and
Read more