{"product_id":"tiger-oscar-astronotus-ocellatus-freshwater-cichlid","title":"Tiger Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background: #E3F2FD; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding: 10px 14px; margin: 0 0 14px; font-size: 0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTiger Oscar\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eAstronotus ocellatus\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the most personable fish in the freshwater hobby, a large South American cichlid prized for its bold black and fiery orange marbling and its dog-like personality. Oscars quickly learn to recognize their keeper, beg at the glass, and even rearrange their own tank, which is why they are often called wet pets. They are hardy and easy to feed, but they grow big and produce a lot of waste, so they reward an owner who can give them space and strong filtration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlan for a single adult Oscar in a 55 gallon tank at minimum, with 75 gallons or more strongly preferred, and add roughly 30 gallons for each additional large cichlid. They are messy eaters, so over-filter the tank and keep up with weekly water changes to control nitrate. Use smooth rock, driftwood, and sturdy decor since Oscars love to dig and will uproot loose plants. Feed a quality cichlid pellet as the staple along with occasional meaty treats, and skip live feeder fish, which carry disease and offer poor nutrition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; margin: 4px 0; font-size: 0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eScientific name\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAstronotus ocellatus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eCommon names\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eTiger Oscar, Oscar Cichlid, Velvet Cichlid\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eSouth America (Amazon basin)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eCare level\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eAdult size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e10 to 12 in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e55 gallons (75+ preferred)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eTemperament\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eSemi-aggressive, predatory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eDiet\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eCarnivore, cichlid pellets and meaty foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e74 to 81°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003epH\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e6.0 to 8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; background: #E3F2FD; padding: 6px 10px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left;\"\u003eLifespan\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e10 to 15+ years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eTank Mates \u0026amp; Compatibility\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOscars are predators that will eat any fish small enough to swallow, so pair them only with similarly sized, robust tankmates such as other large cichlids, large plecos, and big catfish, and always in a tank big enough to dilute aggression. They can be kept singly as a centerpiece fish or as a bonded pair. Avoid small community fish, slow long-finned species, and delicate invertebrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eRecommended Supplies\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin: 4px 0; padding-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeed a color-enhancing staple like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-cichlid-gold-pellet\"\u003eHikari Cichlid Gold Pellet\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive them sturdy hardscape to claim, such as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-texas-holey-rock-resin-cichlid-cave\"\u003eHikari Texas Holey Rock cichlid cave\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse all of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fish\"\u003eFreshwater \u0026amp; Saltwater Fish\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExplore the full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/a\u003e collection for tanks, filters, and food.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eQuestions \u0026amp; Answers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 8px 0 0; line-height: 1.5;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big do Oscars get and how fast?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOscars reach 10 to 12 inches and can grow more than an inch a month when young, so they outgrow small tanks quickly. Start planning for their adult size from day one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 8px 0 0; line-height: 1.5;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat size tank does one Oscar need?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e55 gallons is the realistic minimum for a single adult, and 75 gallons or larger is better. Bigger tanks mean cleaner water and a happier, less territorial fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 8px 0 0; line-height: 1.5;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat should I feed my Oscar?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA high quality cichlid pellet should be the staple, supplemented with meaty foods like shrimp or earthworms. Avoid feeder goldfish, which carry parasites and can cause health problems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 8px 0 0; line-height: 1.5;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I keep Oscars with other fish?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, but only with large, sturdy tankmates such as other big cichlids or large catfish in a spacious tank. Anything small enough to fit in an Oscar mouth will eventually become a snack.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Small","offer_id":48862854086875,"sku":null,"price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium","offer_id":48862854119643,"sku":"8183115","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large","offer_id":48862854152411,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/ac9e9b75b6a9b81bbbf86f136e6f72cb_1200x1200_d524ea09-8bcd-495f-9619-62fdde7d7431.jpg?v=1781167041","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/tiger-oscar-astronotus-ocellatus-freshwater-cichlid","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}