TankBud

Variety of Oscar

Red oscar

Astronotus ocellatus

One of 4 varieties of Astronotus ocellatus · See all varieties →

FreshwaterFish

Red oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)

Varieties · Astronotus ocellatus

See all 4 →

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
13.8 in
35 cm
Minimum tank
95 gal
360 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae

Overview

Red oscars carry orange-red across most of the flank, with the dark base pushed back to the head, back and fins. Coverage varies between suppliers and between fish in the same shop tank, so buy by eye rather than by the label. Color deepens as the fish grows, and juveniles on sale are usually much duller than the adult they turn into.

In the wild

Solid red flanks do not occur in wild oscars. The line was fixed on ornamental farms by breeding from fish that showed unusually heavy red marbling, and it is now standard trade stock. Hobby accounts credit a Thai breeder who picked unusually red fish out of a late-1960s shipment, but that story is repeated more often than it is documented, so treat the origin as uncertain.

Good to know

Red is a selection on how much orange-red pigment a fish carries and how far it spreads, not a single named gene. Dark pigment is still present and shows on the head, back and fins. The trait is graded rather than on or off, so spawns come out uneven and get sorted for coverage.

Did you know

The dark pigment never actually leaves the fish. Oscars can shift their coloring quickly, a trait tied to territorial displays and disputes. On a red fish that shows up as dark blotches surfacing across the flank, then fading again.

Common questions

Is a Red oscar a different species from the Oscar?

No. A Red oscar is a variety of the Oscar, Astronotus ocellatus, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.

What size tank does a Red oscar need?

A Red oscar needs at least 95 gal (360 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

How big does a Red oscar get?

An adult Red oscar reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).

Related species