The Oscar - one of the most popular tame fish of USA.

The Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a species of fish from the cichlid family and it has become one of the most popular “pet” fish because it will learn to recognize its owner/feeder and will become extremely tame. Origin from Amazon, South America the fish can also be found in other areas, including China, Peru, Ecuador, Australia, Colombia, Brazil, Guiana, French and the United States.

The species was originally described by Louis Agassiz in 1831 as Lobotes ocellatus, as he mistakenly believed the species was marine but later, it was proved that the species to the genus Astronotus. The most popular pet fish Oscar known under a variety of common names, including Tiger Oscar, Velvet Cichlid, Marble Cichlid, Red Oscar, Common Oscar, Albino Oscar, Lutino Oscar and Wild Type Oscar. The fish is considered a popular aquarium fish in the United States and it has also become a major game fish in Florida, where escapees from fish farms / aquariums have become well established as part of the local fauna.

When the Oscar is about 1 to 2 inches long and wiggling its little nose in the tank at the local fish store, it is so cute and appealing that lots of fish lover buy it. When the fish is young, it can grow at the impressive rate of up to 1+ inch per month. The Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) has been reported to grow to about 45 cm in length and 1.6 kilograms (3.5 pounds) in weight.

The Oscar is typically darkly colored with yellow-ringed spots on the caudal peduncle and on the dorsal fin. These spots have been suggested to function to limit fin-nipping by piranha, which co-occur with the fish in its natural environment. The beautiful pet fish, Oscar is also able to rapidly alter its coloration, a trait which facilitates ritualized territorial and combat behaviors amongst co specifics. When it is in juvenile stage it has a different coloration from adults and is striped with white and orange wavy bands and has beautiful spotted heads.

Quick stats of Oscar
Family	Cichlidae
Scientific Name	Astronotus ocellatus
Subfamily	Astronotinae
Genus	Astronotus
Origin	Amazon, South America
Order	Perciformes
Class	Actinopterygii
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Max. Size	45 cm (18 inch)
Care Level	Difficult
pH level	6.6 to 7.0
Water	Keep them in clean water
Water Conditions	72-77° F, KH 5-19
Color Form	Black, Orange, Red
Foods	Beetles, crayfish, spiders, cricket's, worms and insects