Red Tiger Oscar

Oscars are messy fish with large appetites. Adequate filtration and frequent water changes are required to keep this fish healthy and/or in breeding condition. Oscars are kept by many aquarists because they are seen as a very intelligent and outgoing species of cichlid. They can be as aggressive as other large South Americans that are found in nature with them but are not always. Oscars can differentiate between their owners and others and are often docile enough to be petted after feeding. Play for Oscars includes moving rocks or plants around the aquarium. This is another reason why adequate filtration and frequent water changes are necessary.

Oscars will eat live fish, but this is not the best diet for them as diseases are commonly introduced when using live feeder fish as food. Oscars diets can also be supplemented with krill, freeze-dried shrimp, bloodworms, or vegetables like peas, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini. Like most fish, a varied diet is best.