Fat Oscar (Astronotus crassipinnis)
From The Aquarium Wiki
Fat Oscar
Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination
Fat Oscar
Astronotus crassipinnis
284 Litres (75 US G.)
25.4-40.6cm (10-16 ")
Freshwater
6.2 - 7.5
22.2-25°C (72 -77 °F)
6-10 °d
1:1 M:F
6-12 years
Family
Cichlidae
This animal is available captive bred
Contents
Additional names
Additional scientific names
- Acara crassipinnis
Origin
- Found in the Amazon River basin, in the Bolivian Amazon and Madre de Dios River drainage in Peru; also found in the Paraná River basin in the Paraguay drainage in Paraguay and Brazil.
Sexing
- Unlike many Cichlids, it's impossible to tell the sex other than venting or by catching them spawning.
Tank compatibility
- A highly territorial fish, so be wary with tank mates, since they will likely eat any fish that will fit into their mouth. Any tank mates must be large and semi-aggressive, such as Synodontis Catfish, large Plecos, Pictus Catfish, Tinfoil Barbs or Banded Leporinus. Tank mates must only be attempted in tanks over 379 Litres (100 US G.).
Diet
- Like their relatives the Oscars, they should be fed a varied diet to maintain optimum health. They will eat most anything, but good quality Cichlid pellets should be the staple of their diet. Live foods, including crickets, earthworms, bloodworms and other insects, promote good digestion. In the wild, their diet is approximately 60% insects.
- They also benefit from some vegetables in their diet such as lettuce, peas, zucchini and cucumber. Soaking pellets in liquid vitamins occasionally will help prevent the fish coming down with Hole in the Head disease.
Feeding regime
- Feed once or twice a day, however be prepared to be begged for food constantly by your fish, and rest assured that this is one fish that would be quite happy to eat all day long. These fish are also known to be quite intelligent fish, and it is quite common for them to become so fond of a particular food or foods that they will not accept or even acknowledge other types of foods.
- Like the Oscar kin, they are voracious eaters and will happily eat any time their human is in proximity to their tank, but once an Oscar reaches about 6 inches in length, they only need to be feed once or maybe twice a day.
- Please note that although they will eat abnormally often it is probably not advisable in the interest of the long term health of your fish to feed them more than what is recommended.
Environment specifics
- Exceptionally large and well filtered tank required. Any décor must be stable and heavy so as not to be knocked over and damage the tank. Any planting may be "rearranged". Also a heavy secure lid is suggested as these fish are known to jump out of the tank and even injure themselves if they try and jump and crash into the lid.
Behaviour
- These fish can be highly aggressive and territorial fish. Only keep in a large aquarium with fish around its size. They are also known as messy fish, so superb filtration is a must when keeping these fish. They are very hardy fish that can tolerate a range of water conditions, but they are susceptible to a variety of diseases due to poor water quality. They are also very intelligent and are able to distinguish between their owners and other humans.
Identification
- An already uncommon large oval-shaped fish frequently confused for their relatives the Oscars. The best way to identify is by checking their origin. As they have a more southern distribution than their Oscar kin.
Pictures
<gallery>
Videos
| In an aquarium: |
External links
- [Fishbase]
- [EOL]
- [JC Fish Photography]
