These fish is a large, boldly colored South American cichlid characterized by its unique personality and striking intelligence. These handsome fish quickly grow to a maximum size of a little under a foot (12" or 33 cm) and are experts at commanding the attention of anyone observing their tank.
These cichlid are certainly some of the most personality driven fish in the hobby, and can actually have so much personality that their territory may extend beyond the tank. They will investigate any goings on in the room and can bond with their owners on a level that the smaller cichlids don't. They can be taught to roll over for food and can even learn to enjoy being petted. Sometimes they act prideful or spoiled and can be sensitive or moody. This fish can also be demanding, behaving just like part of the family!
The adults in the wild are normally a dark color with orange around the gills, on the sides towards the back, and with an orange-ringed black spot at the base of the caudal fin. The scientific description of this fish is truly fitting. The genus term Astronotus means "ray-backed, star-marked" and the species term ocellatus means "spotted or eye spot". Several common names used for this fish are also quite indicative of its appearance including Tiger Oscar and Marble Cichlid. In earlier times they were actually referred to as the 'Velvet Cichlid'.
Though wild caught Oscars are still popular and widely availabe, a number of striking and dramatic color forms have been developed and are similarly popular and available. While all of these color forms present unique and beautiful aesthetics, perphas the most attractive is the mostly solid red colored Red Oscar. Similarly, the Speckled Red Oscar, with a speckled solid red body and black fins, is another contender for the most dazzling color form.
Other popular tank bred varieties include the Tiger Oscar which is very similar to the wild form but with more red coloring, and the Red Tiger Oscar with marbled patches of red pigmentation. The Albino Tiger Oscar, Albino Red Oscar, and all the various lutino and long finned varieties are also some more recently developed forms. In addition, some Oscars have even been artificially colored or 'painted' to increase their appeal. In short, there is no shortage of interesting and dramatic coloring and patterning of these fish, so no matter what you like you will probably like the Oscar!
These fish are very easy to keep and make a great beginner fish. The only aspects of their care which might be difficult for a beginner are the facts that they grow very large very quickly and are not meant to be kept with other fish. As a large, predatory cichlid, they will need to be kept in an aquarium of at least 100 gallons or larger and will eat almost any other fish in their aqarium. It is thus recommended to only keep them either individually, as a breeding pair, or as a community member in a very large aquarium.
Oscars are curious fish that love to play. Rocks make a good decor but must be securely placed on the glass bottom as this fish likes to rearrange its home. Live ground plants can be a challenge because they can be uprooted, floating plants or plastic plants often work better. They also like to explore new things and will enjoy an occasional 'toy' like a plastic ornament. They can live 10 years or more with proper care.
Tank Conditions
At the base of the tank should be a layer of soft substrate. The softest substrates are fine-grained, so sand would be ideal. Oscars like to dig so a coarse substrate would scratch them.
The most natural look would be to place rocks and bogwood around the tank, but you’re free to choose any decorations. Make a couple of caves for each fish so that they have somewhere to hide away within their territory. Also remember to firmly fix the decorations in place.
This species will dig around objects when looking for food which can dislodge them.
Live plants are unlikely to be eaten, but they’re still not safe. Just like the decorations, plants may be uprooted while they dig through the substrate.
Use hardy plants so they can survive the trauma. Floating plants should be safe from damage, a good option is hornwort.
Ideal water conditions are in the range of 74-81°F, 6-8 pH, and 5-20 KH.
You don’t need any special equipment to keep the water healthy, just a filter to clean it and a heater to maintain the ideal temperature range. Most aquarium lights are suitable too.
Attach equipment firmly to the tank or they will suffer at the hands (or fins) of an Oscar’s digging. Keep the lid on because these fish are powerful and may jump, or force other fish to jump.
While they like strong currents in the wild, the filter outlet should create a strong enough current, so you shouldn’t need a water/air pump.
What Size Aquarium Do Oscars Need?
Oscars will need a fairly large aquarium, 55 gallons or larger is ideal. A smaller tank will cause them stress which will make them ill or more aggressive.
How Many Can Be Kept Per Gallon?
Their size and need for territory means each fish needs lots of space. Try 55 gallons for the first Oscar, then 20-30 gallons more for each additional fish.
Foods and Feeding
They prefer to be fed a variety of live, meaty foods, but will readily eat pelleted, dead, or frozen food if offered. They grow quite large so they should be fed a high quality pelleted food and large chunk foods such as cut up prawn and earthworms. As they grow larger, they will particularily enjoy live foodstuffs such as goldfish, guppies, and worms.
Meats from warm blooded mammals (e.g. poultry, beef hearts, pork, etc) were once considered a staple in the diet of all large ciclids. However, more recently it has been discovered that due to the high amounts and types of fats and proteins contained in these foods, (which do not occur naturally in a wild cichlid's diet) these foods should not be fed to cichlids. The fats and proteins contained in these foods can cause damage to a cichlid's organs and lead to dangerous intestinal blockages. If you find your fish enjoys these types of foods, be certain to feed them only as an occasional treat, not as a main course.
Breeding
Oscar lays eggs, but most of them eats away first egg and second too. Female gives birth to eggs after 2 to 3 days of the mating process in batches of 100 eggs and in total, lays 1000 eggs within a period of a few days.
In the natural habitat, Oscar eggs often have a low success rate and only a few eggs mature into young adults but if cultivated in captivity like tank or aquarium , they have high conversion rates.
This point can be taken as a base while selecting rearing water tanks for your fish. After eggs are laid, within 72 hours Oscar fry hatch. If Oscar pair becomes upset, is in stress or feeling unsafe,
they consume their eggs. Fertilized Oscar eggs will be light brown in color as compared to white colored unfertilized eggs. As Oscar fry are hatched, you should move them to a different tank to eliminate the risk of being consumed by parents.
Moving them to different rearing tank will raise their survival rate and they will start to grow and will require more and more space as they grow into a large Oscar fish. Female Oscar lay a large number of eggs ranging from 1000 to 2000 eggs on clean rocks.
Sexing Oscars
It is impossible to tell the difference in sex in case of the Oscars. Both male and female types lo alike and show no difference in length or size but you can differentiate them by looking at the shape of genital papillae located somewhat around their anal opening which is blunt and wide-mouthed in females.
Mating
Mating starts with a pair of fish involved in activities like nipping, chasing each other, picking up sand in mouths and relocating it somewhere else in the tank. Once they decide to mate, they prepare an area to lay their eggs on.
Oscars male and female pairs that are chosen for mating process should be minimum two years of age. It is an easy way to mate if you buy a pair of Oscar’s that are spawned and mated already at least once.
These already spawned fishes spawn naturally each month. When you buy, do not forget to ask for spawning proof. In case you do not buy this pair, next option you can choose is to buy some juveniles,
grow them into adults and wait till they pick up their partners naturally for mating. Choosing this option will cost you enough time in breeding process which can be 16 months and varies from fish to fish.
Breeding signs
Pair of Oscars seen cleaning a flat surface expresses early breeding behavior. At the time of breeding, courtship behavior can also be violent.
Oscar tank mates
Although Oscars can live on their own all alone and do not have any need of tank mates but some of the compatible partners are Black Convicts, Firemouth, Jack Dempsey, Chocolate Cichilds. Know More
How to get Oscars to breed
Purchase a pair that have already been bred in past and pair them off in your aquarium for successful breeding. Interbreeding different types of Oscars like Albino, Tigers, Reds, Whites, Yellows allows you to have more Oscars with most distinct and unusual colors.
You are able to interbreed Oscar types to come out with the most unusual colors. Large space should be provided to Oscar pairs while breeding, a breeding tank of 100 gallons is preferred. Breeding them is like a challenge which can be met if you are dedicated towards it.
Mating habits
Oscar pair shows mating habits such as change in swimming habits, slapping tails, chasing and lip lock mouths. In worst cases, they sometimes attack each other.
Oscars should be given varied diet, tank water should be changed twice a week to keep it clean to induce spawning behavior. When spawning behavior is seen in Oscars, there comes a need to provide the pair with a spawning medium which can be an upturned dinner plate. Ceramic surface is also suitable to lay eggs.
credit
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cichlid/Oscar.php
https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/oscar-fish/
http://www.fishxperts.com/oscar-fish-care/
https://small-pets.lovetoknow.com/fish/oscar-fish-care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1a-GetRJxM
