Ruby Red Oscar Fish (Astronotus ocellatus) 1.5"

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.

• ⁃ We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish. 

Add a bold splash of color and personality to your aquarium with the Ruby Red Oscar. Known for their striking deep-red coloration and remarkable intelligence, these Oscars are more than just fish—they are aquatic pets that often learn to recognize and interact with their owners. Whether you are a seasoned cichlid enthusiast or looking for a centerpiece predator, the Ruby Red Oscar is a showstopper.

Origin and Background

While the Oscar fish is native to the slow-moving waters of the Amazon River Basin in South America, the Ruby Red Oscar is a selectively bred color variant. It has been specifically developed to highlight the vibrant, solid red pigmentation that covers much of its body, distinguishing it from the marbled patterns of wild-type Oscars.

Care and Temperament

The Ruby Red Oscar is a hardy species but is best suited for keepers who can maintain a consistent cleaning schedule. They are large, messy eaters and require robust filtration. In terms of personality, they are semi-aggressive and highly territorial. They are famously "aquatic interior decorators," often moving gravel and décor to suit their liking.

Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons for a single adult; 125+ gallons for a pair.

• Water Parameters: pH 6.0–7.5; Temperature 23°C–27°C (74°F–81°F).

• Filtration: High-capacity canister filters are highly recommended to handle the heavy bio-load.

Environment & Set-up

Create a natural habitat using large pieces of driftwood and smooth rocks. Because Oscars love to dig, live plants are often uprooted; consider using hardy epiphytes like Anubias attached to wood, or high-quality silk plants. Secure all equipment, as Oscars have been known to knock over heaters or intake tubes during their "redecorating" phases.

Feeding and Diet

As natural carnivores, Ruby Red Oscars thrive on a varied, protein-rich diet. We recommend high-quality floating cichlid pellets as a staple. Supplement their diet with frozen or fresh treats such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, and occasional pieces of white fish or earthworms to maintain that brilliant red luster.

Tank Mates

Choose companions that are large and robust enough to hold their own. Ideal tank mates include:

• Large Silver Dollars

• Severums

• Jack Dempsey Cichlids

• Large Plecostomus

• Convict Cichlids

• Avoid any fish small enough to fit in the Oscar's mouth.

Breeding

Oscars are substrate spawners and can be prolific breeders if given the right conditions. A bonded pair will clean a flat rock surface to lay hundreds of eggs. During this time, they become extremely protective. Sexing Oscars is difficult without venting, so starting with a group of juveniles is the most common way to establish a breeding pair.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.
• We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish. 
• Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.