Parrot Cichlid
Amphilophus citrinellus × Vieja melanurus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 15–25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 250 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Species profile
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Common names: Oscar, Oscar Cichlid
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 35 cm
Typical adult length 25–35 cm.
Up to 35 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Intermediate shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A large, intelligent, messy cichlid requiring a broad aquarium, heavy filtration, and carefully selected companions.
Appearance and Identification
A heavy-bodied cichlid with black, brown, orange, or red mottling and an eye-like mark near the tail. Captive tiger, red, albino, and lutino forms are common.
Juvenile and domestic patterns vary widely. The caudal ocellus and Astronotus body shape separate it from unrelated fish sold under similar names.
External sex differences are unreliable. The genital papilla during spawning is the most useful indicator.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 1,800–2,250 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 450–675 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 450 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 150 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 1
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Provide a wide aquarium with heavy filtration, a secure lid, open swimming space, large wood or rounded rocks, and décor that cannot be toppled. A pair requires substantially more room.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Interactive, food-motivated, territorial, and capable of swallowing smaller tank mates.
Keep singly, as a proven pair, or with selected large fish in a very large aquarium. Random adult pairing can cause injury.
Pairs defend broad spawning and fry areas.
Only with robust similarly sized fish that cannot be swallowed and do not require different water. Avoid shrimp, small fish, and delicate species.
Water Parameters
Oscars tolerate a broad range but need stable temperature, low nitrogen waste, and strong oxygenation.
Parameter caveat
Do not house an adult in a small tank because the juvenile fits. Large adults are powerful, long-lived, and produce heavy waste.
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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, Omnivore, 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.
An opportunistic omnivorous predator taking fish, crustaceans, insects, fruits, and prepared foods.
Use quality pellets as the staple. Avoid feeder fish and mammal meat; both increase disease or nutritional risk.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding temperature
- 27 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7
- Brood or egg count
- About 1,000 to 3,000 eggs from a mature female.
- 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. A pair cleans a flat rock or tank floor, lays a large clutch, and guards eggs and fry.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Freshwater River, Lake
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Large Freshwater Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Astronotus
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Pearl Cichlid
Geophagus brasiliensis
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 20–30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 450 litres
- Temperature
- 18–28 °C
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Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. "Dark Knight"
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Red Cheek Krobia
Krobia xinguensis
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10–15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 200 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C