{"product_id":"longfin-red-tiger-oscar-astronotus-ocellatus","title":"Longfin Red Tiger Oscar | Astronotus ocellatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Longfin Red Tiger Oscar is a true 'wet pet' — an intelligent, personality-packed cichlid marbled in red and black with long, flowing fins. It learns its keeper, begs at the glass and grows large and messy, reaching around 30–38 cm, so plan for a serious tank and filtration in return for one of the hobby's most rewarding fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Oscar comes from the slow-moving rivers, backwaters and flooded forests of the Amazon basin in South America, among submerged wood and leaf litter in warm, soft, slightly acidic water. A large, opportunistic predator in the wild, it hunts smaller fish and invertebrates and grows to a hefty adult size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA big, deep-bodied cichlid with a broad head and thick lips, here marbled in red-orange over black in the 'red tiger' pattern and finished with long, flowing fins. A dark eye-spot (ocellus) ringed with orange sits near the tail. Oscars change colour with mood and age, and adults develop real presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIntelligent, bold and semi-aggressive. Oscars are predatory and will eat any fish small enough to swallow, and they can be territorial and boisterous, rearranging décor and uprooting plants at will. They are best kept alone, as a bonded pair, or with other large, robust tankmates in a big aquarium — not in a mixed community.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore with a big appetite. Feed a staple of quality cichlid pellets designed for large fish, supplemented with frozen and live foods such as prawns, mussel, earthworms and the occasional feeder. Avoid a long-term diet of feeder fish or mammalian meat, which can cause disease and fatty deposits; variety and quality pellets keep an Oscar healthiest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpace and filtration are everything. A single Oscar needs at least 300 litres, with more for each additional fish, plus powerful over-filtration and frequent large water changes to cope with its heavy waste. Use robust, well-anchored décor — Oscars redecorate — and expect them to uproot or eat soft plants, so choose hardy or artificial plants. Provide a secure, weighted lid. Be candid: this fish gets very large, lives well over a decade and is a genuine long-term commitment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOscars pair off and are excellent, devoted parents. A bonded pair cleans a flat rock and both guard the eggs and shepherd the fry, but pairing can be violent and needs space and escape routes. Warm, clean water and conditioning on quality foods trigger spawning. Breeding is achievable but demands a very large tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAstronotus ocellatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLongfin Red Tiger Oscar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelectively bred; wild species from the Amazon basin, South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 30–38 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–18 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive; predatory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 litres for one\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400 litres or more (add ~200 L per extra Oscar)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (large cichlid pellets, frozen and live foods)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–20 dGH (soft to moderately hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate keepers with large tanks; single 'wet pet' or big-fish setups\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo — uproots and eats soft plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnly large, robust tankmates in a very big tank: other large cichlids (e.g. Severums, Green Terrors), Silver Dollars, large plecos and armoured catfish, or big peaceful oddballs. Many keepers house Oscars singly or as a bonded pair.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAny fish small enough to be eaten, slow or long-finned fish, and delicate community species. Avoid overcrowding and undersized tanks — an Oscar in too small a tank stays stunted, sickly and short-lived.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232814088483,"sku":"BA9323-S","price":79.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232814121251,"sku":"BA9323-M","price":89.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232814154019,"sku":"BA9323","price":99.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-40cm)","offer_id":55351968104739,"sku":"BA9323-XL","price":109.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/longfin-red-tiger-oscar-astr-43878199492899.webp?v=1790306324","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/longfin-red-tiger-oscar-astronotus-ocellatus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}