Albino Tiger Oscar

Scientific Name: Astronotus Ocellatus

Distribution: The rivers of Peru, Brazil and French Guyana

Size: Up to 16" /40cm

Common Names: Oscar Cichlid, Velvet Cichlid, Marble Cichlid

Temperature: 72F/23C to 85F/29C

pH: 6 to 7.5

General Characteristics

        Oscars would have to be about the most popular South American cichlids in the aquarium hobby, and with good reason. They are attractive, large cichlids that interact with their owners from a very young age. With multitudes of colour morphs available, there is an Oscar to suit just about anyone. Often acting more like a dog with fins, Oscars soon steal the heart of anyone that falls for that cute little "Take me home and love me!" dance that most juveniles will display in the tank at the local pet shop. Unfortunately, this outgoing personality can lead to problems for many people who buy Oscars, unprepared for the size these fish can obtain. Many pet shops have tanks full of full-grown Oscars than have been returned once owners realise that they are unable to provide them with the tank size these fish require.

Aquarium Set Up

          A single Oscar requires a minimum of 55 to 75 gallons/210 to 285 Litres to grow up healthy. The worst thing that can happen to these fish is to be kept in a tank that is too small. If you want to keep a pair, then you'll need a tank over 75 gallons/285 litres. The tank should be wide rather than tall, with a minimum width of 18" /46cm, otherwise your Oscar will not have enough room to turn around. Substrate should be fine gravel, similar to what you would find in their natural habitat. Oscars are diggers, so make sure that the gravel is rounded, otherwise you run the risk of them injuring their mouths during one of their mammoth excavation sessions. Live plants do not tend to last very long in an Oscar tank, as they soon come to be considered toys. Even plastic plants will be dug up and thrown around the tank, so if they are used, you should make sure they are well secured. Caves of some kind are also necessary, and one cave should be provided for each Oscar in the tank. This will allow each fish to have its own "space" to retreat to and feel secure in. Large clay pots are good for this, as is PVC pipe and rock formations have been well siliconed together. Anything that is added to an Oscar tank should be tested for sturdiness. Oscars are destructive fish, especially after they reach maturity at around 9 to 10" /23 to 26cm and about 2 years of age. It has been said by a lot of people that Oscars are not appreciative of bright lights, so this should be taken into account when setting up tank lighting.

Feeding

          In the wild, Oscars live mainly on insects and small crustaceans. They will occasionally eat smaller fish, but this is very much an opportunistic thing, rather than a regular part of their diet. They need a diet that is high in protein and also has a certain percentage of vegetable matter. Home made foods, such as the beefheart recipe, are ideal for an Oscar, supplemented by treats of insects such as crickets, mealworms and earthworms, and frozen foods like brine shrimp and daphnia. High quality pellets are also acceptable, but should be supplemented with some variety of high protein food.

Oscars do tend to get a little picky about their food from time to time, suddenly deciding that their staple food is no longer what they'd like to eat. They can go a fair time without eating, two to three weeks before it starts to take a toll, so if you have an Oscar that is refusing to eat, don't worry. Just remember, we have a much better idea of what is healthy for our fish, and sometimes a little "tough love" is necessary.

Compatibility

Oscars, like most large cichlids, are territorial, so finding compatible tank mates can be a challenge. Many people have had success with other species of medium or large cichlids, such as Jack Dempseys, Severums, Firemouths and Convicts. Keep in mind that anything you add to your Oscar tank should be added while both fish are still juveniles. It is often the case that Oscars will grow "attached" to fish they grow up with and will live happily with fish that would otherwise be considered a threat or a food source.