References - Critical Basic Care Info

First, the tank. For one oscar, a fifty-five gallon is the way to go. (Keep in mind, these are minimums... if you have the money and space, go bigger!).

For two or more, an eighty or one hundred gallon is nessesary for their full size. You may have seen oscars in a smaller tank, but bigger is much better for both the water quality and comfort of these extraordinary fish. So you have a tank. Now you need filtration, which can be reccomended to you by brand and size at your local pet store. Personally, I use both a mechanical and biological filter on my tank in the form of an undergravel filter and an over-the-back style power filter. This cleans both the particles you can see and those you can't!

Oscars, being tropical fish, need heat. They are not picky- anything from 75 to 85 degrees is OK. But there are two dangers here. The first is that an oscar can break most heaters, so buy a sturdy one with extra suction cups and suction the whole length of it to the back glass. No cooked fish for you! Also, no fish likes sudden changes in water temperature, so keep an eye on the temp and make sure the heater is functioning correctly every day.

You will also need a hood for cover and light, some gravel for those helpful bacteria to grow in, and whatever decorations and plants will be pleasing to you. Be warned, however- oscars can move plants and even heavy ornaments, and they will! So choose these things in terms of their potential for injury. No sharp corners, please! Now the water comes into play. If you have chlorine, a simple dechlorinator available in any pet store will take care of this. Add the water, start the pumps, heaters, filters, etc. and let them run for 48 hours.

Trust me- you would rather something break before your oscar comes to live with you! Make sure you have the heat up and stable before you go to buy your new friend.

So, now you are ready for that oscar of your dreams. But how to choose? Whether you decide on baby or full grown, longfin or short, red or gold, keep in mind that the health of your potential pet is the most important qualification. The fish should be active, eat when food is offered, and in full color (little or no olive or beige coloring). Try and find one with full finnage, and with a full belly. If you want more than one oscar (and you have the space) it is best to purchase them at the same time at the same size. One oscar in the tank by itself will set up a territory, and may not welcome newcomers. Oscars brought up together from babies have a better chance of getting along and eventually, breeding!

When your oscar is home, float him to adjust the temperature for at least 15 minutes. When you let him out of his plastic prison, do not offer food right away. Give him a day to look around, and then offer food. Feeding an oscar is not hard, but overfeeding is the easiest thing in the world. Your oscar will soon learn to beg for food, but resist and only feed him two small meals a day. Food sticks, pellets for cichlids, flake food for babies, and sinking pellets are all good.

A magnificient adult Astronotus ocellatus

Make sure your food is fresh (not more than three months old) and vary the diet as much as possible with frozen and freeze dried treats. Feeder goldfish are OK, but not for everyday... and they can also carry disease to kill your pet. If you must feed them goldfish, quarantine the goldfish for a week in a bowl first.

DON'T FEED DEAD FISH TO YOUR OSCAR. It could cause disease and the death of your fish. Whatever your choice in oscars, be it red tiger or black and white, it will be messy. Do water changes every week, at least 30 percent. Twice a week is even better. Check filters for clogging and change the media frequently. If cared for properly, your new oscar will be a true and beautiful pet!