Maintenance of an Oscar Fish.?

Question

So I am thinking about getting an Oscar sometime in the near future, but I would like to obtain some knowledge first. I understand that they are a bit messy, and dirty. More than usual anyways. How often do you have to do water changes? Do you have to have a heater? What are they favorite things to eat? Thanks!

Answer 1

Oscars are a large predatory fish, not really agressive, just big and predatory. There is difference, well unless you are a small fish, then you get eaten either way.

Because they are big, and hearty eaters, they will need more water changed than a tank of small community fish. Weekly changes will be fine, but you may need to do bigger amounts.

Yes they need the water kept around 25C / 77F, so you will need a heater.

They like high protien 'meaty' food. You can buy chiclid pellets that are formulated for large fish like Oscars. Of course some fresh food is better, but they can eat shrimp and fish from the market, earthworms, crickets etc. Basically anything small and edible that might fall into a stream. They will of course eat small fish as well, but you dont have to feed them.

You could start a baby one out in a 30 gal tank, but an adult will need a 55gal as an absolute minimum. 75gal is better, bigger if you want tankmates. They can generally be kept with other large semi-agressive fish as long as you have enough space.

Tank furnishing.. some rocks, gravel and maybe a log. The fish will move the furniture around to suit itself. They love plants too, but mostly as playthings that they can tear apart.

Ian

Answer 2

the above answer is correct but you will need a heater to keep the temperature constant

Answer 3

Oscars get quite large and like most of the south American cichlid cousins, they are very aggressive.You need to get a big tank if you are planning to house an Oscar fish.But juveniles can be kept in small tanks and later shifted to big tank of about 60-70 gallons.They need temperatures around 26 - 28 degree C so a heater is not required.You have to change about 30% of the water every week.Oscars can be fed a large varieties of fish food like pellets, freeze dried, frozen or live bloodworms, earthworms, beef hearts, and even small feeder fish (you can but it isn't compulsory).If you want to keep any tankmates, try to keep some large fish such as silver dollars, plecostomus catfish, tinfoil barbs, bala sharks, bichirs, large catfishes and many other south american cichlids, etc.Do not house them with small fishes such as mollies, guppies and also avoid fishes such as angelfish, goldfish, etc as they are comparatively weak and cannot defend or run away from the aggressive oscar.