Oscar

Q: Can you eat Oscar?

Not consumed — popular ornamental cichlid kept for its bold patterning and personality; occasionally eaten in parts of South America but primarily an aquarium species.

Q: How big does Oscar get?

Oscar can grow up to 45.0 cm long and weigh 1.6 kg.

Q: Is Oscar good for aquariums?

Oscar has a moderate care level, a aggressive temperament, requires a minimum tank size of 280 liters.

Q: Where is Oscar found?

Native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America, including Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. Inhabits slow, deep, turbid rivers, flooded forests, and large lago floodplain lakes. Slow-moving rivers and floodplains of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, South America. Warm, murky water (22-28°C, pH 6-8). Inhabits areas with submerged logs and dense vegetation; pair-bonding cichlid.

Q: Is Oscar endangered?

The conservation status of Oscar is Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List.

Q: What family does Oscar belong to?

Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) belongs to the family Cichlidae (Cichlids) in the order Cichliformes (Cichlids and allies).

Abstract

Prized for an almost dog-like intelligence, the oscar is a large Amazonian cichlid that can learn to recognise its keeper and beg for food. Dark olive-brown with wavy orange-red marbling and a black, orange-ringed eyespot near the tail, it reaches about 45 centimetres in the slow, turbid rivers and flooded forests of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Known to rearrange tank decor and uproot plants, it is a boisterous, territorial fish requiring spacious aquaria of at least 280 litres with robust filtration. Pairs form strong bonds and guard their eggs diligently. Popular in the hobby for its bold character, the species is assessed as Least Concern.