Oscar fish are among the largest types of cichlids that people regularly put in home aquariums. These fish have the potential to grow to fourteen inches in length, but it’s more common for them to be around twelve inches long.
They’re fun fish to own and many love keeping them as pets. In some ways, the personalities of these fish are similar to that of a dog.
If you’re thinking of buying an Oscar fish for your home, it’ll be good to learn more about it first. For example, you’re going to want to know if this fish is hardy or not.
Are Oscar fish hardy fish that will survive for a long time? Or are they delicate fish that aren’t great for beginners?
Below, you’ll learn more about the hardiness of Oscar fish. This should allow you to make the right decision for your home.
Oscar Fish Are Hardy
When you’re looking for a hardy fish to keep in your fish tank, Oscars will fit the bill quite nicely. These fish are very hardy and they won’t die simply because you’ve made a few mistakes.
Even beginners should have a relatively easy time caring for these fish. They’re not so delicate that minor errors will cause them to die.
Of course, you’re still going to want to care for them properly. If you want the fish to remain healthy and live for a long time, you must pay attention to the water parameters and the other basic care needs of the fish.
Regardless, it’s good to know that these fish are hardy and will do well under your care. If you put in the basic effort that you need to put in when caring for any fish, it’s likely that you’ll have a good experience with Oscars.
You Need a Big Tank for Oscars
Since Oscars are such large fish, you’re going to need a large fish tank if you want to keep one or two of them in your home. These fish will not do well if you try to cram them in a fish tank that is too small.
It should be possible to keep an Oscar fish in a 75-gallon aquarium. This is the smallest aquarium size that will work for these fish.
If you only plan to keep one Oscar fish in the fish tank, it’ll be fine to go with a 75-gallon aquarium. However, most enthusiasts agree that a 100-gallon aquarium will be a better fit.
Two Oscars will do just fine in a 100-gallon fish tank if you have enough room for one. You want to ensure that the Oscars have plenty of room since it’ll stress the fish if they have to live in a cramped environment.
For many, it might not be practical to own such big fish. If you live in a small home or an apartment, it might be difficult to clear enough space for an aquarium that’s so large.
Think about your situation and then decide whether it’s plausible for you to keep Oscars in your home. If it isn’t, you can always look into other cichlid types that are smaller.
Can Oscars Live Alone?
Yes, Oscars can live alone. These fish seem to do rather well as loners in a fish tank setting.
It’s common for people to keep just one Oscar fish in an aquarium. So long as the aquarium is large enough, everything is likely going to go well.
You will need to ensure that you meet the basic care needs of the fish. Maintain high water quality and feed the fish properly so it can thrive under your care.
Oscars also like to live in pairs. You can keep a male and a female Oscar in a 100-gallon aquarium if you’d like to.
These are aggressive fish so you don’t want to put too many fish in the tank. Sticking with either a single Oscar or a breeding pair is the best way to go.
Can Oscars Be Community Fish?
Technically, Oscars can be put in community fish tanks. However, you need to be careful when doing so.
Since Oscars are aggressive fish, they have the potential to hurt their tank mates. If you choose the wrong tank mates, you might wind up unnecessarily getting fish killed.
You must pick compatible tank mates for the Oscars when you wish to keep them in community aquariums. The tank mates must be large enough to withstand the Oscars.
Luckily, there are some good options to consider. Silver dollar fish can get along with Oscars fairly well so long as the tank is the right size.
There are many types of catfish that you can put in fish tanks with Oscars, too. Do the necessary research and all will be well.
How Long Will Oscars Live?
Oscars are fairly long-lived fish overall. It’s common for Oscars to live for at least ten years in captivity.
They have the potential to live for a lot longer than that, too. Oscars have been known to live for as long as twenty years.
If you do a superb job of caring for the fish, you’ll be able to keep it as a pet for decades. Since the fish are hardy, they have a good shot of surviving for a long time even if you make a few minor mistakes along the way.
They’re not difficult fish to care for. You should have a good time keeping Oscars in your home if you have enough room for them.
Final Thoughts
Learning more about Oscars should make you feel more confident that you can care for them. They’re hardy fish that aren’t that difficult to maintain.
So long as you have room for a big aquarium, it’ll be practical to keep these fish in your home. If you live in a small apartment or a modest home, it might be best to wait until your situation changes.
Oscars are very satisfying pet fish to own. They might be slightly aggressive, but these issues can be mitigated by giving them enough space and only keeping them in breeding pairs or alone.
If you choose to keep them in community tanks, remember to research compatible tank mates. Have fun with your new fish if you choose to move forward with buying some.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.