Tank setup
Size the aquarium to Oscar's adult size and activity level. Match décor to natural behaviour — plants, rockwork, or open swimming room as needed.
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Freshwater Fish
Astronotus ocellatus
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What to know before you buy.
The Oscar is a large, intelligent South American cichlid with a powerful personality. They are known for interacting with their owners but are also highly aggressive and territorial, making them unsuitable for most community tanks. Often called 'wet pets,' they require a very large aquarium and robust filtration.
Key traits
Select a tank to see how this species fits.
Everything you need to keep Oscar healthy in a South African setup.
Size the aquarium to Oscar's adult size and activity level. Match décor to natural behaviour — plants, rockwork, or open swimming room as needed.
Keep pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28°C. Stable parameters matter more than chasing perfect numbers — acclimate new arrivals slowly.
Oscar is an omnivore. Feed a varied diet appropriate for freshwater fish — quality flakes, pellets, or frozen foods sized to the mouth.
Oscar is generally peaceful. Observe during feeding and at lights-out for true temperament.
Pair with similarly sized peaceful tankmates in freshwater fish. Avoid fin-nippers or species that outgrow this fish.
Breeding notes for Oscar vary by line and water chemistry — ask your local shop about proven pairs in SA.
From hobbyists across SA.
Price trends and buyer demand — data only FishHub tracks.
SA price range this month: R132–2000 · Average: R568
This data is unique to FishHub
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Species that typically work alongside Oscar in a similar setup.
Parrot Cichlid
Amphilophus citrinellus x Paraneetroplus synspilus
Bolivian Ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata
Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Rusty Cichlid
Iodotropheus sprengerae
Venustus Cichlid
Nimbochromis venustus
Electric Yellow Cichlid
Labidochromis caeruleus
Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara sp.