{"product_id":"nemo-oscar-astronotus-ocellatus","title":"Nemo Oscar | Astronotus ocellatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Oscar is a true 'wet pet' — an intelligent, personable cichlid that learns its keeper, begs at the glass and interacts more like a puppy than a fish. The 'Nemo' Oscar is a red-and-orange marbled colour form. Be warned: Oscars grow large (commonly 30–35 cm, occasionally to 45 cm) and are heavy waste producers, so they demand a big tank and serious filtration. In return you get one of the most rewarding fish in the hobby.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAstronotus ocellatus\u003c\/em\u003e is native to the Amazon basin of tropical South America, where it lives in slow-moving rivers, backwaters and flooded forest margins with warm, soft, slightly acidic water and plenty of submerged wood and cover. It is a large, adaptable predator across much of its range.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA stocky, oval-bodied cichlid with a large mouth and expressive eyes. The 'Nemo' form is boldly marbled in red, orange and black; wild-type Oscars are darker with a red-orange 'ocellus' (eye-spot) on the tail base. Colour intensifies with age, good food and clean water, and can shift noticeably with mood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSemi-aggressive and predatory. Oscars will eat anything they can swallow, so tankmates must be too large to be seen as food but robust enough not to be bullied. Many keepers house them singly or as a bonded pair. They rearrange décor, dig substrate and can be territorial, especially when breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore leaning omnivore. Feed a quality large-cichlid pellet as the staple, supplemented with prawns, mussel, earthworms and the occasional whole frozen feeder food. Avoid a diet of live feeder fish, which risks introducing disease and can cause nutritional problems. Do not overfeed — Oscars are greedy and prone to bloat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide at least 300 litres for a single fish, adding around 200 litres for each additional Oscar, with oversized filtration (canister rated well above the tank volume) and frequent large water changes to cope with their heavy waste. Keep water at 22–27 °C, pH 6–8 and soft to moderately hard. Use robust, well-anchored décor, as they will move anything loose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOscars are open substrate spawners that clean a flat rock or slate and lay hundreds of eggs, which both parents guard diligently. Sexing is difficult outside of breeding. A compatible bonded pair and a very large, stable tank are the main requirements; pairs can become highly territorial while spawning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003eAstronotus ocellatus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOscar ('Nemo' colour form)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth America (Amazon basin)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommonly 30–35 cm; up to 45 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–15 years, sometimes longer\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 fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore \/ omnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–20 dGH\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\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 (digs and uproots plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther large robust cichlids (Jack Dempsey, green terror, Severums), large plecos, silver dollars and other big, fast tankmates that cannot be swallowed — always with ample space.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAny fish small enough to be eaten, delicate or long-finned community fish, and slow bottom-dwellers that will be bullied. Avoid overcrowding.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232811958563,"sku":"BA8253-S","price":130.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232811991331,"sku":"BA8253","price":150.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232812024099,"sku":"BA8253-L","price":175.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-40cm)","offer_id":55351967678755,"sku":"BA8253-XL","price":200.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/nemo-oscar-astronotus-ocella-43887393276195.webp?v=1790306324","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/nemo-oscar-astronotus-ocellatus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}