Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 25–35 cm
- Minimum tank
- 450 litres
- Temperature
- 23–29 °C
Species profile
Orinoco Peacock Bass
Cichla orinocensis
Common names: Orinoco Peacock Bass
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 65 cm
Typical adult length 45–65 cm.
Up to 65 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Specialist shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A giant Orinoco predator with three bold flank ocelli, suitable only for very large custom aquaria.
Appearance and Identification
Adults are green-gold with three rounded dark flank blotches, a caudal ocellus, red eyes, and orange or yellow lower fins.
The three rounded flank ocelli are important, but juveniles remain difficult to distinguish from other Cichla. Provenance is essential.
Adult males may become larger and develop a temporary forehead hump during breeding.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 7,200–9,000 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 1800–2700 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 1800 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 300 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 3
- Activity level
- High
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- High
Use a public-aquarium-scale enclosure with several metres of length, powerful filtration, high oxygen, secure lids, and robust open décor.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An active visual predator that consumes smaller fish and becomes territorial while breeding.
Keep singly, as a compatible pair, or in a group only in extremely large systems.
Pairs defend broad substrate areas.
Only with similarly large robust fish that cannot be swallowed. Avoid small fish, shrimp, and fragile species.
Water Parameters
Warm stable well-oxygenated water is essential. Adults produce heavy waste and require large water changes.
Parameter caveat
Juvenile size is misleading. Confirm permanent adult housing before purchase.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Predator
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Large carnivore pelletUse as the main balanced food once accepted.
- Whole shrimp, mussel, or fish fillet piecesOffer unseasoned marine-derived pieces in suitable sizes.
- EarthwormsA useful occasional whole-food item from a clean source.
- Frozen krillUse in rotation rather than as the sole diet.
A piscivorous predator best fed balanced large pellets and varied whole foods.
Avoid live feeder fish and mammal meat. Train juveniles to pellets early.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 28 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6.5
- Brood or egg count
- Several thousand eggs.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpSuitable after yolk absorption for most cichlid fry.
- Crushed high-quality cichlid pelletIntroduce gradually as fry grow.
- Finely chopped frozen cyclopsUseful supplementary food for larger fry.
A biparental substrate spawner producing a large clutch on a cleared site and guarding fry aggressively.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Brazil, Colombia, South America, Venezuela
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater River, Lake, Reservoir
- Aquarium contexts
- Freshwater Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium, Very Large Freshwater Aquarium
- Audience level
- Specialist
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Cichla
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Parrot Cichlid
Amphilophus citrinellus × Vieja melanurus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 15–25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 250 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Pearl Cichlid
Geophagus brasiliensis
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 20–30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 450 litres
- Temperature
- 18–28 °C
Ram Cichlid – Dark Knight
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. "Dark Knight"
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C