They really are one of the most beautiful fish to keep if you know-how. With that being said, aggression is not an Oscars default behavior and outbursts are rare so feel free to take that recommendation with a pinch of salt. Oscar fish babies are as small as any other tropical fish when they are young 1 to 2 inches but under the right conditions, they can grow at a rate of 1 inch per month, to a fully-grown size of around 10 — 12 inches.
An Oscar fish is a hardy fish and will live for a very long time if you maintain good quality water in your aquarium. In ideal conditions, an Oscar fish can live for up to 20 years.
On average, Oscars will live between 10 and 20 years. An Oscar Fish tank size should be no smaller than 55 gallon per fish to prevent putting any unnecessary stress on the fish. Oscars are notoriously messy fish and require a lot more maintenance than most other species. Oscars produce a lot of waste so frequent water changes are a given necessity, but the smaller the tank that you house them in, the more frequently you will have to clean them and check the water parameters. Oscar Fish enjoy living in pairs or small groups.
We would recommend keeping at least 2, or even 5 if you have the space. Oscars are sensitive to changes in water parameters and they are also susceptible to common tropical fish diseases such as Ich, Dropsy, Fin Rot and Tail Rot. We will discuss the most common Oscar fish diseases later in this guide, but for now, just remember that clean water is absolutely essential to the health of your Oscars.
The perfect temperature for Oscar Fish is between 75 and 80 degrees Fahranheit 23 — 27 Celcius and they prefer a pH balance of between 6 and 8. Oscars can tolerate a wide range of water hardness levels but we would recommend keeping it around 12dH — 15dH. Oscars are very sensitive to changes in water temperature as well as increases in ammonia levels. Because of this, we would recommend a good quality water filtration system as well as an aquarium heater with a built-in thermometer.
Not knowing the precise temperature and letting the ammonia levels spike is a surefire way to cause stress in the fish, leading to a loss of color, a lack of appetite, and general unhappiness and poor quality of life. Make sure you have a good quality water test kit on hand to regularly test the water parameters.
Oscars love to rearrange their environment themselves so just add a few plants, rocks, and ornaments and let them get to work playing interior designer.
Oscars are also a moody fish. This is a species full of personality. A few different varieties have been bred which offer some different colors and patterns. Pick wisely because they can live up to 20 years if kept in good health. Mating and feeding times can also fuel their aggression. You might see them uproot plants and decorations during this search, so everything in the aquarium should be secured down.
The good news is that if the tank is set up correctly and you choose the right tank mates, their aggression can be controlled. They grow very quickly; up to one inch per month until they reach around 12 inches in length.
In the wild, they usually grow slightly larger and there have been reports of these fish growing up to 18 inches. In the wild, they mostly live off a diet of small insects and crustaceans, supplemented by some live fish and dead plant matter.
Most live between years, however, given the right care, tank conditions, and diet, they can live up to 15 years. Hole in the head disease is a common freshwater fish disease that commonly affects large cichlids such as oscar fish and discus fish.
Also known as Hexamita, symptoms include white stringy feces, faded color, and loss of appetite. Sometimes, but not always, this disease leads to lesions on the head and the body of the fish. Most varieties grow to be large, reaching up to 12 inches. They reach this size quite quickly in their lifetime, growing one inch a month until fully grown.
They have a long oval body. The dorsal and anal fins extend along the body to the caudal fin, which forms a fan at the rear. It takes a close look at the genitals to tell them apart. Classically these cichlids are covered in an assortment of irregular black and orange splotches tiger oscars , but colors may change over time. Red and lemon oscar fish have bodies that are almost completely solid red or yellow respectively. Their fins tend to be either black or white.
Albinos are another popular choice. You can get albino varieties for lots of species, people are drawn to the bold white that covers the entire body. Remember, fish have evolved to live in their natural regions, so you need to set up your aquarium to replicate these natural conditions. Water flow tends to be strong since most populations are found in rivers like the Amazon. At the bottom of the river would be a soft substrate with rocks, debris, and vegetation scattered around on top.
At the base of the tank should be a layer of soft substrate. The softest substrates are fine-grained, so sand would be ideal. Oscar fish like to dig so a coarse substrate would scratch them. Make a couple of caves for each fish so that they have somewhere to hide away within their territory. Also, remember to firmly fix the decorations in place. Just like the decorations, plants may be uprooted while they dig through the substrate.
Use hardy plants so they can survive the trauma. Floating plants should be safe from damage, a good option is hornwort. Most aquarium lights are suitable too. Keep the lid on because these fish are powerful and may jump, or force other fish to jump. Oscar fish will need a fairly large aquarium, 55 gallons or larger is ideal. A smaller tank will cause them stress which will make them ill or more aggressive.
Their size and need for territory mean each fish needs lots of space. Try 55 gallons for the first oscar, then gallons more for each additional fish. This species is not the best at making friends. In South America, they live in some of the most diverse areas of the world , so they are used to lots of other fish.
An oscar-only tank is probably the best idea if you want these cichlids. In regards to the water parameters, oscars are generally hardy fish. Most oscars have been bred in captivity for many generations, so they are able to live within a pH level of 6. However, optimal pH range is 6.
If you wish to breed oscars, the pH level should be in this optimal range. If the temperature is too low, oscars can be more susceptible to infection and disease. If the temperature is too high, oxygen levels in the water can become depleted.
A reliable aquarium heater , and an aquarium thermometer is important. Oscar fish are omnivores. They originate in rivers and pools of water in the Amazon basin. They are opportunistic feeders that will eat a variety of food which includes insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.
They may also feed on vegetation, fruits, and seeds. Oscars will also eat other fish. They are able to swim quickly for short distances, allowing them to hunt other fish occasionally. However, oscars are not true piscivores. Therefore, their diet may consist of other fish, but this is not their main source of food.
In addition, pellet food can be supplemented with many other food such as freeze dried food, fresh food, and live food. The best food for growing oscar fish is a high protein diet. While oscars are omnivores, juvenile oscars that are growing rapidly need protein in their diet. In addition to high protein flake and pellet fish food , their diet should be supplemented with fresh and live fish food.
White worms are great for juvenile oscars. They are known for the high protein and fat content, which is vital for growth. Growth rate is affected by the feed patterns as well. Rather than feeding one large meal a day, juvenile oscars should be fed times a day. Feeding different types of food each time is a good way to vary their diet. Once the juveniles reach inches in length, the frequency of the feedings can be changed to times a day. The oscars should be more established and feeding should become easier.
At inches, oscars are considred adults. While they are still growing, it is important to watch the weight of the oscar.
Adult oscars can be once a day or every other day. Oscar fish are often sold as inch juvenile fish, but they will quickly grow within the first year.
Without this, they may start to turn white. However, do not confuse them with Albino Oscars, which are naturally white due to their lack of color. Most pet owners try to find good breeders so they can adopt or buy healthy pets. This is essential, as unhealthy animals or fish can have a host of diseases and health problems later in life.
Treating them may be an option, but it is always best to get healthy baby animals. Ensure that you buy a healthy Oscar from a reputable breeder or pet shop. This will ensure that your pet has a happy, healthy, and long life in your home. Oscar fish can grow to be at least 11 to 12 inches long.
Moreover, some Oscars can grow even larger, so you need to ensure that you have an adequately large tank for them. As such, you will require a gallon tank for your adult Oscar. If you have more than one Oscar in the tank, it may be best to increase the tank size to up to gallons. Furthermore, ensure that you maintain good tank hygiene and set up the tank appropriately.
Make sure that you research thoroughly and purchase the right filter for the tank size. Furthermore, you need to clean and maintain it regularly to keep the water from becoming toxic.
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