Place the male and female in a separate breeding tank decorated similarly to the home tank.Select a mature male and a mature female oscar fish (the fish typically mature after reaching one or two years old).However, if you’re adamant about breeding oscar fish, here’s what you should do: Oscar fish are picky about their mates, and putting a male and female in the same tank in the right conditions doesn’t guarantee breeding success. In each session, only feed the oscar fish as much food as they can eat within two minutes.īreeding oscar fish in captivity is difficult and often requires a lot of fish. Split feeding into two or three sessions per day. Oscar fish have natural hunting instincts and enjoy catching and eating live food. As omnivorous, opportunistic fish, oscar fish eat anything they can find, and you should replicate this varied diet in captivity.įeed oscar fish a combination of store-bought pellets or flakes, live/frozen food like daphnia and brine shrimp, and plant-based foods like algae wafers or green vegetables. In the wild, oscar fish eat a varied diet of larvae, small fish, and plant matter. Use a 55-gallon tank for one oscar fish, and add an extra 30 gallons for each additional fish.ĭon’t add small fish or invertebrates, like shrimp and crabs, to the tank because oscar fish eat any fish that are smaller than their own size. If you plan to house oscar fish together, make sure there’s enough room in the tank. Treat oscar fish with fin rot with antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian. Prevent fin rot by eliminating environmental stressors. Fin rot is characterized by tattered or blackened fins with a milky appearance, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Fin RotĬaused by a bacterial infection, fin rot occurs when oscar fish are stressed by poor water quality, overcrowding, or low oxygen levels. Treat Ich by adding one tablespoon of salt for every two gallons of water and increasing the temperature of the tank by a couple of degrees to speed up the lifecycle of the parasite.
Symptoms of Ich include reddening of the fins, white spots on the gills and fins, and flashing (when fish rub their bodies against rough objects). This disease is commonly brought into an aquarium when new plants, live foods, and new fish are introduced. Ich is caused by a protozoan parasite called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Reverse the disease by improving water quality and making sure the fish gets plenty of vitamin and mineral supplementation. Prevent hole in the head by maintaining consistent water parameters. It can also cause lesions on the fish’s torso, a loss of appetite, and color fading. The disease is so-called because it leads to head lesions. Hole in the head is a common freshwater disease caused by a parasite called hexamita. There are several diseases that commonly affect oscar fish: hole in the head, Ich, and fin rot.
PH consistency is also important - oscar fish need a neutral pH, and aren’t used to acidic or alkaline waters.Īside from water parameters, providing enough space for oscar fish to swim in and claim their own territories will benefit the fish’s long-term happiness and health. Oscar fish can’t survive in temperatures below 55✯, so make sure water temperature is consistent. Water type: Medium-hard, freshwater Tank size: Minimum 25 gallons Water temperature: 74–81✯ Substrate: Sand, rocks, and vegetation Tank setup: Plants, caves, and decorations Acidity: 6–8 pH Water hardness: 5–20 dkH Filter: Yes, to create a strong current and clean the water Bubbler: Not essential, but can be used to help with oxidation of the water Lighting: Yes, to establish day times and night times for the fish The fish swim throughout the freshwater Amazon and Orinoco Rivers and tributaries, enjoying the warm water temperatures and moderate-to-fast currents of these biodiverse environments.
The oscar fish is found in parts of South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Scientific name: Astronotus ocellatus Common names Oscar fish, oscar cichlid, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, marble cichlid Distribution: South America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela) Size: 10–12 inches Life expectancy: 15–20 years Color: Orange and black/brown marbled colors Diet: Omnivore Temperament: Aggressive Minimum tank size: 55 gallons Temperature: 74–81☏ (23–27☌) pH: 6–8 Hardness: 5–20 dGH Care level: Moderate Breeding: Egg depositor Origin Oscar Fish FAQs Oscar Fish Facts & Overview.Should You Get an Oscar Fish for Your Aquarium?.
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