Common Name/s:	Oscar; Velvet Cichlid; Marbled Cichlid
Distribution:	South America: Amazon River basin
Size:	10" - 14"
Tank size:	125 gallons
pH:	Neutral
Temperature:	72 - 84 F°
Diet:	Carnivorous

This is by far the most popular fish in the hobby. Oscars grow to be very large so if you plan on keeping one plan on it growing fast and needing a big tank. Oscars can be taught tricks with a little time and patience. Though it is thought that Oscars are aggressive they are not though they will fiercely defend their territory. It is popular to feed these big fish feeder fish and only feeder fish though it is not recommended, as they are susceptible to diseases that are carried by feeders. There are several varieties: Tiger, Red tiger, Red, Albino red, Albino tiger, Black, Gold, Long finned, Common, and blue (blues are dyed and will not keep their color). Sexing these fish is very difficult and the only guarantied way to sex them is to check under their tail. Oscars are substrate breeders.

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