Oscarfishlover.com

What family does the Oscar belong to?

The Oscar is part of the Cichlidae family and the scientific name is Astornotus ocellatus

How big does the Oscar get?

The Oscar has the potential to reach around 16 inches although it is more common for fish to reach around 12 inches in captivity

How long can Oscars live for?

Oscars can live for 15 years or maybe more

How many different type of Oscar are there?

There are various different type of Oscar. Probably the most common are Tiger, Red, Albino and Lutino. However, there are various others that you may come across.  These include the common Oscar which is actually a wild Oscar.  Chocolate Oscar, Gold Oscars, green Oscars, lemon Oscars, purple Oscars and probably a few more I haven't mentioned

Is an Oscar fish easy to look after?

The Oscar fish is not a difficult fish to look after if you give it a suitable environment to live in. You may start having problems such as health issues if you keep your Oscar in an unsuitably small tank or feed it on a poor diet

Is tank size important with the Oscars?

Tank size is very important when it comes to keeping Oscars. The absolute minimum size tank for one adult Oscar is 55 gallons although 75 gallons is probably better.  Two Oscars require over 100 gallons

What sort of filtration should I use?

If possible, use more filtration than you need. External canister filters are ideal when keeping Oscars. 

What should I feed my Oscar?

There are loads of different foods on the market that you can feed an Oscar. It is recommended that their staple diet should consist of good quality pellets. You could also feed them shrimp/krill, live or frozen (defrost thoroughly). There are lots of different cichlids mixes on the market. These are often a mixture of such things as krill/bloodworm and lots of other tasty morsels. Cockles and mussels are often gladly accepted as well. Oscars love insects so you can harvest these from your garden (beware of pesticides). A big juicy worm will be readily accepted by an Oscar.  Live fish can be fed but please read the health section of this website for information on doing it safely

Can my Oscars have tankmates?

Yes but you must choose them very carefully.  You could run into problems if you introduce other types of cichlid.  Small fish could well become food so it's best to introduce fish that are on the larger side.  You must also bear in mind that you may not have space to add any more fish.  Research suitable fish to add to your Oscar tank

Can I breed Oscars?

If you happen to have a female and male Oscar that pair up, there is a likely chance they will breed.  However, you must bear in mind that they produce a large amounts of eggs in one batch and you must have somewhere to put the Fry if you want to be successful.  This means having a separate set up.  You will also have to look after the Fry and keep the water in extremely good condition because they will not tolerate poor water conditions. You have to make sure that you feed them on the correct type of food and make sure they get enough.

My Oscars have laid eggs, are they fertilised?

If your Oscars lay eggs and they stay white, they are not fertilised.  Fertilised eggs are normally tan in colour

Do Oscars have teeth?

Yes Oscars do have teeth.  They don't have proper teeth in their mouth but they do have very rough edges to their jaws and can inflict trauma to skin quite easily.  This normally happens during feeding time so if you don't want to be bitten, don't hand feed.  They also have teeth in their throat which are used to crush up food.

What should my pH level be?

Oscars can live in pH from 6.0 to 8.0 perfectly okay. 

What are the first signs of hole in the head disease?

The first signs of hole in the head are usually very small holes developing around the head and behind the eyes.  It might look a very superficial to begin with but if not treated, will get worse within time.

Will my Oscar play with a toy?

Another contentious issue. Everybody has their own opinion on this. My opinion is no an Oscar will not play with a toy. If they actually take notice of what you put in the tank whether it be a ping-pong ball etc it will be more out of curiosity than actually enjoyment.

Can I cure hole in the head disease

Yes, hole in the head disease is curable and preventable as well.  The easiest way to prevent it is to carry out regular tank maintenance such as water changes.  A good diet can also play an important role in preventing this disease.  Curing early stages of hole in the head disease can be done by upping the tank maintenance.  Advanced stages of hole in the head disease will require medication which does not always work

Why is my fish breathing heavily?

You may notice your Oscar opening and closing its mouth quite frequently. There are various reasons that could cause your fish to do this. One of the most common causes is lack of oxygen in the water. Try and increase the amount of oxygen going into the water. An Oscar with ill health may breath heavily.  Stress can also make an Oscar breathed heavily.