Oscar care

Water temperature

74–81°F

A oscar wants water at 74–81°F, pH 6–8, and a tank of 75 gallons or bigger. Good tank mates include plecos, clown loaches, black ghost knives.

Eats any fish that fits in its mouth and rearranges the tank.

Astronotus ocellatus

pH

6–8

Minimum tank

75 gal

Adult size

12.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

10–20 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• Common plecoYes
• Clown loachYes
• Black ghost knifeYes
• BichirYes
• Elephant nose fishYes
• Chinese algae eaterYes
• Firemouth cichlidYes
• Rainbow sharkYes
• Kissing gouramiYes
• Bala sharkYes
• SeverumYes
• Dojo loachYes

Full oscar tank mate chart: 18 yes, 6 with care, 74 no

Oscar water compared

Fish to keep away from oscars

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); oscars need 74–81°F. No temperature suits both.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); oscars need 74–81°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Angelfish An adult oscar is twice the size of an angelfish and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
• African cichlid An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches african cichlids do.
• Discus No shared temperature. Oscars need 74–81°F, discus need 82–88°F.
• Betta An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
• Pea puffer An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1 inches pea puffers do.
• Guppy An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches guppies do.

More cichlids

• Angelfish76–84°F
• Discus82–88°F
• Convict cichlid74–82°F
• German blue ram80–86°F
• African cichlid75–82°F
• Blood parrot76–80°F
• Jack Dempsey72–86°F
• Bolivian ram72–79°F