At what size will my Oscars need to be in order for me to start feeding them feeder fish. One is 8 inches and the other is 6 inches, they are 9 months old I think. Also what would you suggest as a good feeder fish?.

imo there are no good feeder fish for oscars.
contrary to popular belief oscars are not predators and do not actively hunt fish for nourishment. they are opportunistic feeders whose diet consists mainly of insects and invertebrates. this is not to say that they will not eat any poor fish that crosses their path but it (fish) is really on a tiny percentage of their diet.

technically you never HAVE to feed them feeder fish, its just a preference thing, they can survive on pellets/crickets/worms easily, they dont need feeder fish at all.

mine is about 8 inches and he is only about 5 months old and hes had feeder fish from about 2 - 3 months old on a very rare occasion

gcollin wrote:


They are plenty big to eat feeders by this point.

I guess probably very small guppies or platys...as long as they've been quarantined or raised yourself. Why do you feel you need to use feeders? My opinion is that people who use feeders do so for their own enjoyment, or under some sort of attempt to provide a 'natural' environment for the fish-- IMO it really is of no benefit to the oscar-- compared to worms, shrimp, frozen marine fish, etc.

They eat- Wardley cichlid pellets, Freeze dried blood worm, Baby shrimp, and soon the occasional feeder fish. I want to put some veggies in there, what would you guys suggest.

I've used peas and corn, although I can't remember where but I seem to recall someone discussing that the boiled corn isn't really too great for them (?). Anyways, mine hated the corn...but he'll eat peas, which is supposedly good for constipation/digestion. You can buy vegetable pellets too I think.

You can feed your fish feeders anytime you want. They are your fish. Just make sure they can fit in the Oscars mouth and be swallowed with out complication.

I don't feed my Oscars feeder fish. I think your Oscars will be healthier the less live fish you feed them.

i gave my oscar peas once. he sat there chewing on it for a good minute, floated over the pleco and spewed it out all over him.....

my oscar is an a$$hole tho... lol

make sure u vary the diet good, otherwise u get a picky, spoilt oscar like mine...

i feed my O feeders once a month just to vary his diet
maybe 10 or so but i try not to make a habbit just a bit of
movement in tank =]

i always have feeders in my tank whenever i will be out for several days....
the reason: oscar will hunt some when hungry when no one will feed them....
as you would know, my fully grown tilapias are from the feeders that haven't
taken out