Oscar Fish Info And Care Welcome to the channel. In today's video,
we will be taking a look at the Oscar fish. Are you looking for something big, bad, and
personable in the aquarium hobby? The Oscar fish might just be the fish for you. It
does come with a few challenges like a mean streak and the potential to grow to enormous sizes.
However, it is also one of the few fish that will recognize its owner and it has stunning
looks. Part of the challenge of successfully keeping these fish is the care they require
and we will demystify that for you. Oscar Natural Habitat
The Oscar belongs to the South American Cichlid family and originates from the Amazon River Basin.
It typically inhabits slow-moving white waters that occasionally have
branches and even aquatic plants. The substrate can vary greatly. Since
this is a fish that has been around for quite some time in the hobby and is relatively easy to breed,
almost all the specimens available in the aquarium trade are captive-bred.
Oscar Physical Description The Oscar is one of the most stunning fish
in the freshwater hobby. Before getting to its stunning coloration, we have to talk about its
size and its rate of growth. The Oscar is one of the big boys of the freshwater hobby
and can grow to a size of 18 inches. While that is massive, what is even more
impressive is their rate of growth. Under ideal conditions, they can grow by an inch
every month which means that they can attain their maximum size in less than two years.
As for the coloration, there are three main varieties available in the hobby.
The most common and what is considered as the ‘original’ is the Tiger Oscar.
It has a dark-brown to greyish base with patterns of red and orange on it. Then there is the Albino
variety which is mostly light pink to white in appearance with red eyes. It also has patterns
but they are quite subdued and subtle. Then there are the Red Oscars which have
stunning colorations of something between red and copper. Their patterns are brilliant.
Other varieties are also available but they all require similar care.
They have the typical robust body shape found in cichlids.
Ideal Tank Setup For Oscars Size is one of the biggest considerations
when keeping Oscars. As mentioned earlier, they can grow to a maximum size of 18 inches
and they don’t take long to grow this big. As such the tank also needs to be big.
Ideally, one Oscar needs a 75-gallon tank with each additional Oscar needing 50 gallons each.
You cannot compromise on the size of the tank as apart from their large size,
these fish can be incredibly territorial. As for the tank setup, avoid crowding the tank
and leave plenty of open spaces. They are not very particular about the substrate. Ideally,
choose something easy to clean and for this reason, keep the substrate depth low as well.
Avoid sand though as these fish can ingest sand or throw them directly at the filter intake
causing the filter to malfunction. Water flow should be low but they can adapt
to medium or even high flow. Oscar Water Parameters
Oscars prefer soft acidic water but they are fairly adaptable. The pH should be
between 6.0 and 8.0. The temperature should be between 77°F and 80°F or 25°C and 26.5°C.
Oscars are very hardy but they need stability. So, the exact water parameters aren’t as important
as making sure that they do not fluctuate. Another important thing to keep in mind
is that these are large fish that produce a lot of waste. Make sure that
the filtration system is up to the task. A good canister filter with a rated volume
per hour twice the volume of the tank is the recommended way to go. It goes without saying
that the tank has to be properly cycled and there should not be any lapses as far as the maintenance
and upkeep are concerned. Oscar Diet
Oscars aren’t picky eaters but they need to be fed high-quality food for overall health
and well-being. These are carnivorous fish and need a meat-based diet.
A high-quality cichlid pellet is a great staple food. This can be supplemented with frozen and
dried meat-based food. Extremely fatty food such as beef heart should only be used sparingly.
Oscar Behavior And Tank Mates There is no getting around the fact that
Oscars are aggressive and they aren’t particularly good at being great tankmates. Ideally, they
should be kept in a species-only tank, and that too with plenty of space for each individual.
If you really must keep other fish then there are a few things to keep in mind.
Oscars are active hunters and will go after anything that will fit in their mouths.
So avoid anything small. The temperament of the tankmates needs
to be similar to the oscar and they should also be on the larger side. Some fish that
can be kept with Oscars include: Other semi-aggressive South and North
American Cichlids Silver Dollars
Plecos Bichirs
Arowanas (provided they are legal to keep where you live)
Oscar Breeding Breeding Oscars can be a tricky proposition,
especially in a home setup. One of the most difficult aspects involves sexing
them and getting them to pair. The males and females are virtually identical.
The best strategy is to get a breeding pair. Then simulate rain by performing a 30% water change,
reducing the temperature by a degree or two, and sprinkling water on the water surface. Also,
provide a sandy substrate with something flat for the eggs to be laid on.
The female will lay her eggs and the male will fertilize them. Both parents will guard
them very aggressively. This is why it is highly advisable not to have other fish in the tank.
The eggs will hatch in about 4-7 days and will become free-swimming at 10-12 days. Remove the
fry at this point to a grow-out tank with the same water parameters as the breeding tank.
Feed them brine shrimp until they are large enough to accept flakes and pellets.
Oscar Diseases As far as diseases are concerned,
the Oscar is probably the hardiest fish around. It only becomes sick when the water condition is poor
or if it is being constantly bullied. As long as the tank is large enough and the water
quality is maintained properly, these fish should live to their full lifespan of 10-15 years.
To Sum It Up! We reiterate that the Oscar
fish isn’t for everyone. Even though they are pretty straightforward when it comes to care,
they do have other requirements such as a pretty large tank.
They are also very aggressive and therefore not something a beginner should tackle.
They are often sold as juveniles in pet stores which can give the false impression of them being
manageable fish but they are not. On the positive side though,
these fish are highly personable and can recognize people. It can distinguish its owner and exhibit
some interesting behavior around them. They also live for a long time making them
great as a pet you can form a bond with. If you want these qualities in your fish
and can fulfill their unique requirements, then go for it. You won’t regret it.
I hope you enjoyed this video. Be sure to tap that like button and don't forget to
subscribe if you haven't already done so. I will see you in the next video.