Animal Profiles
Fish

Oscar Fish

Astronotus ocellatus

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The oscar is a deep-bodied South American cichlid with a conspicuous eye-like mark near the tail. It lives in warm fresh water and eats a varied diet rich in small animals.

Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) photographed in an aquarium.

Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) photographed in an aquarium.

Jón Helgi Jónsson ( Amything ) · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Astronotus ocellatus uses slow, shallow waters and river basins in tropical South America. The native setting is distinct from aquarium populations and introductions elsewhere.
Habitat
Rivers and lakes
Diet
Omnivore
Food
Invertebrates and other food are taken close to the bottom.

Classification

Common name
Oscar Fish
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Astronotus ocellatus
Taxon rank
species
Order
Perciformes
Family
Cichlidae
Genus
Astronotus
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It is a cichlid.
  • It has a tail-base eyespot.
  • Aquarium strains vary in colour.

Habitat and range

Astronotus ocellatus uses slow, shallow waters and river basins in tropical South America. The native setting is distinct from aquarium populations and introductions elsewhere.

Appearance and adaptations

Wild-type fish are dark with variable orange, yellow or red markings. A dark spot with a bright rim near the tail resembles an eye. Aquarium breeding has produced additional colour forms.

Diet and behaviour

Invertebrates and other food are taken close to the bottom. Oscars form breeding pairs and prepare a site for eggs. Much published behaviour comes from captive observations, so it should not be assumed to describe every wild setting.

Sources

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