Oscar fish is famous for being aggressive fish despite swimming elegantly. But appearances can be deceiving. Aquarists who enjoy keeping Oscar fish are initially attracted by their colors and appearance but quickly become drawn to the intelligence and behavior of this wonderful fish.
Oscar fish are temperamental creatures typically kept by more experienced aquarists. As omnivores, they are easy to feed, but finding fish that coexist well with them can be difficult.
In this post, I will show you how to care for Oscar fish and describe ideal aquariums, compatible fish, and reproduction.
Getting to Know the Oscar Fish Better
The Oscar fish is a species of cichlid. It belongs to the Cichlidae family to the Astronotinae subfamily. Native to Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, French Guiana, and Peru, Oscar fish can be found along the Amazon River and its surroundings, which is one of the most biodiverse environments in the world.
Wild populations have also been found in China and North America, although they have only spread to these areas through aquarium keeping. Oscar fish are famous for home aquariums. They should not be purchased lightly. They are known for their territorial and aggressive behavior, making them difficult to care for.
Behavior
Oscar fish are territorial, so adding this type of fish to your aquarium can be risky. They are not afraid to attack. During mating and feeding times, they can also increase their aggression.
Oscar fish usually swim in the middle levels of the aquarium, although they will often swim down to the substrate in search of food.
During this search, you may see them ripping up decorations and plants, so everything in the aquarium should be protected.
If your tank is set up correctly and you choose the right tank mates, their aggression can be mitigated.
Types of Oscar Fish
Oscar fish reach this size very quickly in their lifetime, growing on average 2 cm per month until they are fully grown.
They have a long, oval body. You will find it difficult to sex this species as it is monomorphic, meaning that both sexes look the same. The colors can change over time.
Oscar red and lemon fish have almost completely red or yellow bodies, respectively. Their fins tend to be black or white. Albinos are another popular choice. There are albino varieties for many species. People are attracted to the bold white that covers the entire body.
Initially, Oscar fish was available in three colors, but due to crossbreeding, various colors, shades, spots, and patterns are now found in them, and hence we have various types of Oscar fish.
Aquarium
Fish have evolved to live in natural habitats, so you must prepare your aquarium to replicate those natural conditions. The water flow tends to be strong, as most populations are found in rivers like the Amazon.
Recreating these conditions in your aquarium is relatively easy.
Set Up an Aquarium for Oscar Fish?
Many aquarists have suspicions about raising an Oscar. It is important to understand how to set up an aquarium for this type of fish.
The ideal aquarium size for an Oscar fish is a 55-gallon aquarium for one specimen. A smaller aquarium will cause stress, making them sick or more aggressive.
A layer of soft substrate should be at the bottom of the aquarium. Sand would be ideal, as the softest substrates are fine-grained. A more natural look would be to place rocks and driftwood around the aquarium, but you can choose any decorations.
Make a few caves for each fish so they have a place to hide in their territory.
Also, remember to securely fasten decorations in place, as this species will dig around objects when looking for food and may dislodge these decorations.
Natural plants are unlikely to be eaten, but they are still unsafe. Like decorations, plants can be uprooted as they dig into the substrate.
If you choose to plant live plants, use hardy ones so they can survive the trauma. Floating plants should be protected from damage.
Although it tolerates temperatures between 24 and 33 degrees well, a thermostat is necessary as lower temperatures can reduce its metabolism and facilitate the onset of diseases. The Oscar fish produces a large amount of dirt, whether from food scraps or feces, so it is important to have good filtration.
Although Oscar fish like strong currents in nature, the filter outlet must create a strong enough current.
How Many Oscars Can I Have in an Aquarium?
Their size means that each fish needs a lot of space. Start with a 55-gallon tank for the first Oscar and add an additional 20-30 gallons to your tank bill for each additional Oscar.
Oscars and Community Aquariums
This species isn’t the best at making friends. In South America, they live in some of the most diverse areas in the world, so they’re used to being around a lot of other fish.
However, this doesn’t happen in an aquarium because there is much less space, so tensions increase. An aquarium exclusively for one Oscar is probably the best option if you want to breed these cichlids.
If you want to turn your tank into a community tank, you will need to choose some large, passive fish that will stay out of Oscar’s way while still being able to defend themselves.
Normally, when raised alone, they become very territorial, as well as if kept in aquariums with less than 400 liters.
The idea is to acquire the Oscar fish while still small to avoid problems like this. It should be raised with other fish to get used to the company.
Keeping Oscar Fish Together
Oscars can be kept together, which is generally the safest option if the tank size is respected. Otherwise, their need for territory can cause them to attack tank mates.
Make sure they have plenty of space, as this reduces territorial disputes.
An already-formed pair of Oscars can also be an option. Otherwise, they will fight if there is insufficient space in the tank.
The idea is to have just one Oscar fish (if it is a relatively small aquarium) or a group (for a large enough aquarium). This way, a hierarchy will be formed in the school, and there will be relative peace.
However, maintaining a group can create a problem in the medium term if couples that form start fighting over territories.
If the aquarium is not big enough, you will need to separate those that are getting too much to avoid death. Oscar fish breed in captivity with relative ease. When they form a pair, they will stay together for life.
The idea is to separate this couple in an aquarium just for them if you really want to reproduce.
Food
While finding fish to share the same tank as Oscar can be difficult, providing a healthy diet is not. Omnivores will eat just about anything you give them. In the wild, they eat small fish, larvae, and small pieces of plant debris.
The easiest option for an aquarium is to use store-bought pellets or flake foods. These foods are designed to contain all the nutrition your fish need, especially vitamin C, to keep them healthy.
The Oscar Fish also accepts fillets of fish, shrimp, beef hearts, chicken, pâtés, and live fish.
It is important to vary the Oscars’ diet because they get used to a type of food that is used very frequently and may no longer accept another type of food, which could be a problem in the future.
Feed them a few times a day in quantities that they can finish completely in a few minutes. Be careful of aggression, as these cichlids become agitated when feeding.
Illnesses
Oscar fish very rarely get sick. If kept in good conditions, with controlled temperature and well fed, they are unlikely to get sick.
Although they are hardy, it is worth remembering that they are particularly susceptible to hole-in-the-head disease.
Wounds caused by fights, such as very low pH, are the most common problems caused by external causes.
Tumors and swim bladder disorders can also occur, but these are rare cases. Some Oscars can live for up to 20 years in an aquarium if well cared for.
Conclusion
The Oscar fish is truly charming, but an aquarist rarely adds an Oscar fish to an existing aquarium, as they require a carefully planned setup and preparation.
This cichlid is usually a centerpiece that the aquarium plans around the rest of the aquarium.
When buying your Oscar fish, choose healthy fish that swim with their fins wide open and are solid in color.
Those that are free from injury are likely to be the most aggressive. Do you have an aquarium with Oscar fish living with other species? If so, which ones? Leave a comment and share your experience with this wonderful fish.
