Oscar fish (Astronotus ocelllatus.) comes from South America. They are fish that develop in the river plains on the outskirts of the Amazon. To this day, these fish are caught in the lakes, streams, canals and ponds of Florida, the United States and other states. This fish is an invasive fish in these territories and the law penalizes all those who introduce them into the ecosystems.
Do you want to know the care, characteristics and curiosities of the Oscar fish?
Characteristics of the Oscar fish
Oscar fish are considered aggressive fish, that is, they are quite territorial, since they defend their place, but without intimidating other fish. This will allow that, although they are territorial, you can have other fish in the aquarium with them.
These fish can grow to about 16 inches in size in the wild. However, in aquariums it may only reach measures 10 to 14 inches. If it is cared for well and in optimal conditions, it can have a life expectancy of up to 15 years.
As for color, the Oscar fish has a great variety of colors such as red, lemon, albino, tiger, red tiger, and albino tiger.
Aquarium requirements
The size of the aquarium must be sufficient to hold at least 200 liters of water. If we want optimal conditions, it will have to be about 270 liters capacity. This is necessary, since the fish is quite large and has to have freedom when swimming. In addition, it is important that the aquarium has a lid that closes well to prevent the fish from jumping out. These animals like to go to the surface of the water and jump out of it to get food.
One of the activities that these fish do the most is digging. When decorating the aquarium, it should be taken into account that they will require gravel or sand as a substrate so that the fish can dig. If you want to buy live or plastic plants for decoration, forget it. To the oscars they love to break and bite live plants and plastic, so they won't last long.
To keep them entertained, it is enough to give them a piece of wood or a cave in which they can hide. Being territorial animals, they will choose a side of the aquarium that they see as safest and will settle there.
The water in the tank must have a temperature between 24 and 27 degrees, being soft and with a pH that is around between 6,8 and 8.
Reproduction
These fish present sexual dimorphism. That is, there are no noticeable differences between the male and the female. When this happens, the only thing you can do to know the difference is to wait for the time to spawn. The female drops her tube to lay the eggs and the male is responsible for fertilizing the eggs with his most pointed sex organ.
As these fish look the same with the naked eye between males and females, it is difficult to get a male and female pair the first time. If they have young, you should find a place to live for the Oscars that are on their way since, probably, they will not fit in the same aquarium. If this situation occurs and you do not have the resources to maintain them, sell them to specialized stores or give them away, but do not release them in a natural environment. This is worse for both them and the ecosystem.
It is possible that during spawning the Oscars fight and stop getting along. For this it is important to keep an eye on them. Once they are ready to spawn, they lay the eggs on a flat rock or clean the substrate. They can put up to 1.000 eggs per spawn.
The hatchlings usually take about 3 days to hatch they will have the yolk sac attached to them for a week. To help the new minnows grow correctly, it is best to feed them with brine shrimp, crushed scales or baby shrimp.
Raising minnows in a separate aquarium is often more successful because some parents end up eating their young. When you go to change the aquarium pups, you should be careful of the parents, as they will try to bite you to protect their children.
Meals
The main diet of these fish is carnivorous, although you should have as balanced a diet as possible. You can feed him pellet food and supplement it with a treat such as insects, worms, frozen prepared foods, pellets, and lyophilized. If you feed insects, it is important that they have not been exposed to pesticides or they will be poisoned.
The Oscars have a very dirty "mania" for eating. And is that when they chew food, they spit it out and then eat it again and spit it out. So on until they finally eat it. Since this process is very messy, it is vital to have a good water filter in the aquarium.
Compatibility
Although they are territorial and aggressive fish, they can have other tankmates. Before introducing any fish at random, you should note that any fish that If the Oscar fits in his mouth, he can be eaten.
The most compatible are other cichlids like them, and if they are of a similar size, the better. Ideal fish are those that are neither too passive nor too aggressive.
Fish silver dollars they act like wavering fish, that is, they will be swimming actively, in such a way that the Oscars will see them and feel safe.
Diseases and prices
Oscar fish can be affected by the disease of Hexamite. It is a disease that causes holes in the head. It can be seen by the detachment of whitish filaments derived from cell necrosis of the head muscles.
Hexamithiasis is caused by a flagellated protozoan called Hexamita. Fish normally carry parasitic protozoa in their intestines in small quantities ingested with food. Situations of stress such as an inadequate population, the wrong quality of the water, sudden changes in temperature, an unbalanced diet and a long list of factors, can trigger the multiplication of tenants.
Oscar fish prices can vary between the 10 euros and the 300, depending on the size and age.
With this information you will surely be able to have your healthy Oscar fish in your aquarium and enjoy its activities.