Fish of the Amazon: The Oscar
One of the major discomforts for an Oscar is to have a different breed of species in the aquarium alongside with them. As a primary defense, Oscars generally will intimidate other fish by chasing them around and snapping at them. Most territorial animals develop these natural, aggressive, and defensive animal instincts when they feel threatened and would like to claim a certain part their territory. Oscars are known for behaving in such a way. They use animal communication that indicates to other invaders, “This is my territory!”
Proper dieting for South American Oscars is a consistent amount of protein and vitamins. Avoid using small feeders if possible as they generally contain various bacteria’s that can eventually turn fatal. However, when Oscars are in their natural habitat, their diets consists of feeding off of other smaller fish.
Feeders aren’t healthy for Oscars. Diseases that feeders often carry is from the bacteria build up of an unclean tank and a mixture fish that also carry other germs and bacterias. One should pay close attention to an Oscar’s dieting and body. A good way to notice an Oscar’s health conditions is by looking closely at its body. A torn, scalely and holey fish represents poor dieting and or health. If the Oscar’s diet is unhealthy it’ll have holes around its eyes, underneath its mouth, and on the top of its head. Feeders aren’t particularly the best meal to feed Oscars. Even every now and then can be a great risk, because the background of the feeders isn’t known.
All fish fluctuate in size, good judgment and logic could help someone determine the proper tank size and conditions for Oscars. Oscars need room inside of a tank to move around and grow properly. Oscars can use the extra space in tanks, its healthy for them and it gives them more space to claim territory. Water temperature for Oscars should be around 74-80 degrees. In the Amazon of South America, temperatures are often hot and humid. Your Oscar is very good at showing its level of discomfort, believe it or not.
Oscar’s behavior tends to flucatate between lazy, aggressive and busy depending on its mood. Naturally, they like keeping themselves preoccupied by moving objects inside of the aquarium. The gravel surface, for example, is often rearranged as the Oscars will pick up gravel and spit it out in the zone they prefer. Oscars are their own experts at involving themselves with their habitat functions. They appear to look foolish often when preoccupying themselves, but these fish, as well as other animals know how to better their conditions of survival.
Oscars tend to be very sloppy eaters amongst the breeds of the Goldfish. These South American creatures eat as if there isn’t a tomorrow! They chomp food hungrily and blow the remains out of the back of their gills. Not to mention, it is an extremely greedy fish. Hungry Oscars are aggressive and show signs of impatience if they haven’t received their meal at their time. You may notice at times upon dropping its food, it may snap at the water or quickly swallow it whole. The Oscar’s sloppy eating habits usually leave aquariums in a filthy state that require extensive cleaning if a tank is not maintained every few days.
The Oscar fish carries a distinctive profile and unique characteristics that make this fish different from the other breed of goldfish. The bright personality of the Oscar allows them to survive by not only instinct but also with the unique abilities that
animals possess.
In hindsight, The Oscar is more of a pet than any other fish you may own.
