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Live fish will be delivered only to selected pincodes in Kolkata and nearby areas.

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:

  • Tiger Oscar

  • Oscar Fish

  • Velvet Cichlid

  • Marble Cichlid


🔬 Scientific Classification:

  • Scientific Name: Astronotus ocellatus

  • Family: Cichlidae

  • Order: Cichliformes

  • Origin: Amazon River Basin (South America – Brazil, Peru, Colombia)

  • 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:

  • Highly intelligent and interactive

  • Can recognize their owners and take food from hand

  • Territorial and semi-aggressive, especially during breeding or if tank is too small

  • Will often rearrange tank décor

  • 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
  • Feed once or twice daily

  • Avoid overfeeding

  • 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
  • Perform regular water changes (30–50% weekly)

  • Ensure proper bio-filtration and low nitrate levels


🕰️ Lifespan:

  • 10 – 15 years in home aquariums

  • 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:

  • Oscars have "personalities" – some are shy, others are very bold

  • They can be trained to do tricks and respond to gestures

  • Nicknamed “water dogs” because of their intelligence and behavior

  • They often change color slightly based on mood and environment


If you'd like a poster, product label, or information card for the Tiger Oscar for your store or tank display, I’d be happy to make one!

We process orders on all weekdays (Monday to Saturday), excluding public holidays.

To avail free shipping, purchase amount should be Rs350/-(for Aquarium Accessories and Aquatic Plants) or more, less than the above amount shipping charges applicable Rs70/- only. For live fish delivery charges applicable at the time of checkout.

Orders are normally Shipped within 1-2 days and usually take 2-5 working days to be delivered based on your location. However, you will receive an approximate timeline when you place your order.

To ensure that your order reaches you quickly and in good condition, we only ship through reputed courier agencies.

Let us know abour your query!