Black Copper Oscar

Oscars come from Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, and Peru. They can be found along the Amazon River and its environs, which are one of the world’s most bio-diverse habitats.

This is a species with a lot of personalities. A few different types have been produced, each with its own set of colors and patterns.

Oscars are territorial, so keeping them in your tank with other fish can be dangerous.

They are not frightened to attack other fish and will do so if one of their territories is violated. Mating and feeding times can also aggravate them.

The majority of their time will be spent swimming in the tank’s mid-levels, though they may frequently venture down to the substrate in quest of food.

During this hunt, you may notice them uprooting plants and ornaments, so make sure everything in the tank is safe.

The good news is that their hostility can be tamed if the tank is properly built up and the right tank buddies are chosen.

Most Oscar types tend to be rather huge, reaching up to 30cm in height. They achieve this size rather quickly in their lives.

Oscars can be stored together, which is usually the most secure solution. Their need for territory may lead them to fight tankmates. Make sure they have plenty of space to avoid territorial issues.

I. Size

• Average Adult Size:  10 – 14 inches (25 – 35 cm)
• Maximum Adult Size: 12-15 inches
• Swimming Level: Top and middle levels

II. You would love the fish because…

The Copper Oscar is a huge, gorgeously patterned cichlid that is one of the most popular, interactive, and beloved fish in aquarium history!

The Copper Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), commonly known as the Marble Cichlid or Velvet Cichlid, is a huge South American cichlid that needs no introduction.

With good reason, it is one of the most popular and appreciated fish in the aquarium hobby. It has lovely markings, is quite resilient and uncomplicated in every manner, and would make an excellent showpiece fish in any large aquarium. It grows to a size that is large but manageable, and it is one of the most engaged fish in terms of paying attention to its owner.

A large aquarium with a sand or gravel substrate, solid decor, and enough open swimming space will be ideal for the Copper Oscar. Because it consumes some plant matter, artificial plants are a better option for decoration than actual plants (if plants are used at all). This species, like many cichlids, is known to rearrange decor to its satisfaction, therefore “avalanches” of decorative stones and driftwood must be avoided.

II. Is this fish species peaceful or hostile?

• Recommended: at least 2, or even 5 if you have the space
• Recommended Male/Female – 1: 2
• Overall friendliness : Peaceful
• Friendliness with own kind: Peaceful
• Friendliness with other species: Anything small enough becomes a meal, small catfish frequently have spines on their fins that, if ingested by Oscars, can be fatal. Big catfish can be excellent tank mates for Oscars, while little species can be very dangerous.

IV. Species compatibility

• Black Convict Cichlid
• Silver Dollars
• Firemouth Cichlid
• Severum Cichlid
• Green Terror Cichlid
• Jack Dempsey Cichlid
• Bichir

V. How to feed this species?

Oscar fish are omnivores, meaning they require both meat and vegetables to exist. Oscars consume largely insects, crustaceans like shrimp, and water plants in the wild, thus these are the primary items to seek in your food. The finest meals to feed your Oscar are high-quality cichlid flakes and pellets.

Recommended food

• Tetra 77063 Tetra Cichlid
• TETRA BITS All Life Stages Complete Bioactive formula Dry Fish Food

Word for the wise

Live, frozen food

All your aquarium essentials – Filters/Décor/Heater/Driftwood and many more.