Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)

Fish in the family Cichlidae. Moderate care. Freshwater.

Quick facts

Scientific nameAstronotus ocellatus

FamilyCichlidae

Also known asTiger Oscar, Red Oscar, Albino Oscar, Velvet Cichlid

Care levelModerate

Reef safetyFreshwater

TemperamentAggressive

Dietcarnivore

Adult size14 in

Minimum tank size75 gallons

Water parametersTemp 74-81°F, pH 6.0-7.5, GH 5-20 dGH

Appearance

Heavy-bodied cichlid with marbled dark and orange-red patterning (Tiger), solid red, or albino variants; an eye-spot on the tail base.

Difficulty and care for the Oscar

Moderate

Origin and habitat

Amazon Basin, South America

Keeper notes

Large, intelligent predator; territorial and will eat any tankmate it can swallow. Often kept singly or with large, robust tankmates. Tiger/Red/Albino are color forms of one species.

Log Oscar in your reef tank

Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Oscar alongside everything else in your reef.

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