Oscar

Astronotus ocellatus

Oscars recognise their owners and beg like puppies – but anything that fits in their huge mouth becomes dinner.

A predatory freshwater fish that grows to 35 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 23–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.8 and an aquarium of at least 250 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

23–28 °C (73–82 °F)

pH

6.0–7.8

Adult size

35 cm (14 in)

Aquarium

250 L or bigger (66 US gal)

Temperament

Predator

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

Amazon & Orinoco basins

Good to know

• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Bala Shark, Black Ghost Knifefish, Bristlenose Pleco, Clown Loach, Motoro Stingray, Mystery Snail, Nerite Snail, Ornate Bichir, Siamese Tigerfish.

Will eat: Amano Shrimp, Angelfish, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Congo Tetra and 40 more.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey, Pea Puffer.

Eats the newborn fry of: Asian Arowana, Axolotl, Bristlenose Pleco, Comet Goldfish, Discus, Fancy Goldfish, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray.

Its fry are eaten by: Axolotl, Black Ghost Knifefish, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Siamese Tigerfish.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Tiger rare
• Albino rare
• Lemon epic
• Red rare

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.7 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.