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Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
35 cm
Adult size
700 L
Minimum volume
2
Minimum group
15 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Astronotus
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- pair
In the wild
Overview
The oscar, described by Agassiz in 1831, owes its species name to the orange-ringed black eyespot on its tail fin. Very popular, it exists in many aquarium forms (red oscar, tiger, long-finned). It lives ten to twenty years and is also a valued food fish in South America.
- Scientific name
- Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz, 1831)
- Classification
- Cichliformes › Cichlidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Western Amazon and Orinoco basins; introduced elsewhere (Singapore, United States)
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It mainly frequents shallow, slow or still waters in forested areas, preferably silt-laden whitewater, near submerged roots or bank vegetation.
Behaviour
Not especially aggressive for its size, it is a predator that swallows any fish that fits in its mouth. Only a very large aquarium lets you keep it with characins, anostomids, other cichlids and large catfish. Omnivorous, it prefers meaty foods and accepts pellets and plant matter.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth