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Here is a complete and detailed profile of the Tiger Oscar Fish, one of the most popular and striking freshwater cichlids in the aquarium hobby:
🐟 Tiger Oscar Fish – Full Information Guide
✅ Common Names:
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Tiger Oscar
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Oscar Fish
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Velvet Cichlid
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Marble Cichlid
🔬 Scientific Classification:
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Scientific Name: Astronotus ocellatus
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Family: Cichlidae
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Order: Cichliformes
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Origin: Amazon River Basin (South America – Brazil, Peru, Colombia)
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Type: Freshwater, Tropical
📏 Physical Description:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Size | 10 – 14 inches (25 – 35 cm) in captivity |
| Weight | Up to 1.6 kg |
| Color | Black to dark gray base with bright orange to red “tiger-like” blotches |
| Eyespot (ocellus) | On caudal peduncle (base of the tail) – a natural anti-predator adaptation |
| Shape | Oval, thick-bodied with fan-like fins |
| Fins | Dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are rounded and often match body patterns |
🧠 Behavior and Temperament:
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Highly intelligent and interactive
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Can recognize their owners and take food from hand
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Territorial and semi-aggressive, especially during breeding or if tank is too small
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Will often rearrange tank décor
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Can jump – always keep a lid on the tank
🌡️ Aquarium Requirements:
| Parameter | Ideal Range |
|---|---|
| Tank Size | Minimum 55 gallons for one adult, 75–100 gallons for a pair |
| Temperature | 24°C – 28°C (75°F – 82°F) |
| pH Level | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| Water Hardness | 5 – 20 dGH |
| Filtration | Powerful filter (canister filter preferred) – Oscars produce heavy waste |
| Aeration | High oxygen levels required |
| Substrate | Sand or smooth gravel |
| Decorations | Driftwood, flat rocks, strong plants (they may dig or uproot) |
| Lighting | Moderate lighting preferred |
🐠 Suitable Tank Mates:
| Compatible | Incompatible |
|---|---|
| Severums, Silver Dollars, Large Plecos | Small fish (tetras, guppies – will be eaten) |
| Firemouth Cichlids, Large Gouramis | Fin-nippers like Tiger Barbs |
| Bichirs, Convict Cichlids (if space allows) | Aggressive cichlids unless tank is large |
| Other Oscars (if introduced together as juveniles) | Crabs, shrimp, snails (will be eaten) |
🍽️ Diet:
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Staple | High-quality cichlid pellets |
| Live/Frozen | Earthworms, crickets, bloodworms, brine shrimp |
| Vegetables | Blanched peas, spinach, zucchini |
| Occasional Treats | Feeder fish (use sparingly), insects |
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Feed once or twice daily
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Avoid overfeeding
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Avoid feeding goldfish or mammal meat – can cause fatty liver disease
🧬 Breeding:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Egg-layer, substrate spawner |
| Pair Formation | Monogamous pair bonds form naturally |
| Breeding Age | Around 12 months |
| Courtship | Lip-locking, cleaning rocks |
| Egg Laying | Female lays 500–1000 eggs on a flat surface |
| Hatching | 2 – 3 days; fry become free-swimming in about 1 week |
| Parental Care | Both parents guard and fan the eggs and fry |
| Difficulty | Moderate – hard to sex and pair Oscars; best to raise 4–6 juveniles |
❤️ Health & Common Issues:
| Disease | Prevention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Hole-in-the-head disease (HITH) | Maintain excellent water quality, use vitamin-rich food |
| Ich (white spot disease) | Maintain stable temperature, treat with anti-parasitic |
| Fin rot, fungal infections | Avoid injuries, use good filtration and medication |
| Internal parasites | Deworming medications, quarantine new fish |
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Perform regular water changes (30–50% weekly)
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Ensure proper bio-filtration and low nitrate levels
🕰️ Lifespan:
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10 – 15 years in home aquariums
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Some live up to 20 years with optimal care
🧾 Quick Reference Summary:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Freshwater, Large Cichlid |
| Size | 10 – 14 inches |
| Lifespan | 10 – 15 years |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive, territorial |
| Tank Size | 55 – 100+ gallons |
| Diet | Omnivorous |
| Breeding | Egg-layer (moderate difficulty) |
| Care Level | Intermediate to advanced |
🧡 Tiger Oscar Fish – Fun Facts:
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Oscars have "personalities" – some are shy, others are very bold
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They can be trained to do tricks and respond to gestures
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Nicknamed “water dogs” because of their intelligence and behavior
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They often change color slightly based on mood and environment
IMAGES ARE FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.
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