Buy Aulonocara and Malawi at Vegas Valley Cichlids

$124.99

$55
FLAT RATE SHIPPING

100% LIVE ARRIVAL
GUARANTEE

TALK TO A PERSON
SUPPORT 24/7

$55
FLAT RATE SHIPPING

100% LIVE ARRIVAL
GUARANTEE

TALK TO A PERSON
SUPPORT 24/7

Availability: 1 In Stock

Red Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)

The Red Oscar, a striking color variant of the Oscar Cichlid (Astronotus ocellatus), is a popular and intelligent freshwater fish known for its bold personality and bright red coloration. Oscars are among the most beloved large cichlids due to their interactive nature and ability to recognize their owners.


Origin and Habitat

  • Native Region:

    • Found in South America, primarily in the Amazon River Basin, Paraguay River, and Orinoco River.
    • Inhabits slow-moving waters, floodplains, and shallow streams.
  • Natural Environment:

    • Prefers areas with soft, muddy, or sandy bottoms.
    • Often found near submerged branches, rocks, and dense vegetation.

Physical Characteristics

  • Size:

    • Can grow up to 12-14 inches (30-35 cm) in captivity.
    • Requires large tanks due to its size and active swimming behavior.
  • Coloration:

    • Bright red body with variations in patterns (solid red, red and black, or marbled).
    • Juveniles are typically dull-colored and develop vibrant hues as they mature.
  • Lifespan:

    • Can live up to 15 years with proper care.

Behavior and Temperament

  • Temperament:

    • Semi-aggressive to aggressive, especially as they grow.
    • Highly territorial—will establish and defend their space.
  • Social Behavior:

    • Best kept alone or in pairs.
    • Can be housed with other large, robust fish but may attack smaller or weaker tank mates.
    • Oscars are intelligent and can recognize their owners, often begging for food.

Aquarium Care

  • Tank Size:

    • 75+ gallons for a single Oscar.
    • 125+ gallons if keeping multiple Oscars or large tank mates.
  • Water Parameters:

    • Temperature: 74-81°F (23-27°C)
    • pH: 6.5-7.5
    • Hardness: Soft to moderate.
  • Tank Setup:

    • Substrate: Sand or fine gravel—Oscars love to dig.
    • Hiding Places: Large rocks, caves, and driftwood for territory definition.
    • Filtration: Strong filtration required to handle their high waste production.
    • Lighting: Moderate to dim lighting is preferred.

Diet and Feeding

  • Carnivorous Diet:

    • In the wild, Oscars feed on small fish, crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.
    • In captivity, they require a protein-rich diet.
  • Recommended Foods:

    • High-quality cichlid pellets (staple diet).
    • Live or frozen foods: Bloodworms, crickets, mealworms, shrimp, and small fish.
    • Vegetables: Peas, spinach, zucchini, or spirulina-based foods.
  • Feeding Schedule:

    • Feed once or twice a day.
    • Avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity.

Breeding

  • Pair Bonding:

    • Oscars form monogamous pairs and often choose their mates naturally.
    • Breeding pairs can become extremely aggressive toward tank mates.
  • Spawning Process:

    • They are substrate spawners, laying 500-3,000 eggs on a flat surface (rock or slate).
    • Eggs hatch in 3-5 days, and parents guard the fry aggressively.
  • Parental Care:

    • Both parents tend to the eggs and fry, ensuring survival.
    • If the pair becomes too aggressive, it may be necessary to separate them from other fish.

Tank Mates

  • Compatible Tank Mates:

    • Large cichlids (such as Jack Dempsey, Green Terror, or Severums).
    • Large, robust catfish (Plecos, Featherfin Catfish, or Bichirs).
    • Fast-moving, non-aggressive species like Silver Dollars.
  • Avoid:

    • Small fish (e.g., Guppies, Tetras, or Corydoras) – will be eaten.
    • Very aggressive fish (e.g., Flowerhorn, Red Devil Cichlid) – may lead to constant fighting.

Is the Red Oscar Right for You?

✅ Best for experienced aquarists with large tanks.
✅ Requires strong filtration and regular tank maintenance.
✅ Highly intelligent and interactive, making them a rewarding pet.
Not ideal for community tanks with smaller or peaceful fish.

The Red Oscar is a bold and entertaining fish, perfect for aquarists looking for an engaging and dynamic pet. With the right care, Oscars can become long-lived companions and even recognize their owners!

Red Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)

The Red Oscar, a striking color variant of the Oscar Cichlid (Astronotus ocellatus), is a popular and intelligent freshwater fish known for its bold personality and bright red coloration. Oscars are among the most beloved large cichlids due to their interactive nature and ability to recognize their owners.


Origin and Habitat

  • Native Region:

    • Found in South America, primarily in the Amazon River Basin, Paraguay River, and Orinoco River.
    • Inhabits slow-moving waters, floodplains, and shallow streams.
  • Natural Environment:

    • Prefers areas with soft, muddy, or sandy bottoms.
    • Often found near submerged branches, rocks, and dense vegetation.

Physical Characteristics

  • Size:

    • Can grow up to 12-14 inches (30-35 cm) in captivity.
    • Requires large tanks due to its size and active swimming behavior.
  • Coloration:

    • Bright red body with variations in patterns (solid red, red and black, or marbled).
    • Juveniles are typically dull-colored and develop vibrant hues as they mature.
  • Lifespan:

    • Can live up to 15 years with proper care.

Behavior and Temperament

  • Temperament:

    • Semi-aggressive to aggressive, especially as they grow.
    • Highly territorial—will establish and defend their space.
  • Social Behavior:

    • Best kept alone or in pairs.
    • Can be housed with other large, robust fish but may attack smaller or weaker tank mates.
    • Oscars are intelligent and can recognize their owners, often begging for food.

Aquarium Care

  • Tank Size:

    • 75+ gallons for a single Oscar.
    • 125+ gallons if keeping multiple Oscars or large tank mates.
  • Water Parameters:

    • Temperature: 74-81°F (23-27°C)
    • pH: 6.5-7.5
    • Hardness: Soft to moderate.
  • Tank Setup:

    • Substrate: Sand or fine gravel—Oscars love to dig.
    • Hiding Places: Large rocks, caves, and driftwood for territory definition.
    • Filtration: Strong filtration required to handle their high waste production.
    • Lighting: Moderate to dim lighting is preferred.

Diet and Feeding

  • Carnivorous Diet:

    • In the wild, Oscars feed on small fish, crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.
    • In captivity, they require a protein-rich diet.
  • Recommended Foods:

    • High-quality cichlid pellets (staple diet).
    • Live or frozen foods: Bloodworms, crickets, mealworms, shrimp, and small fish.
    • Vegetables: Peas, spinach, zucchini, or spirulina-based foods.
  • Feeding Schedule:

    • Feed once or twice a day.
    • Avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity.

Breeding

  • Pair Bonding:

    • Oscars form monogamous pairs and often choose their mates naturally.
    • Breeding pairs can become extremely aggressive toward tank mates.
  • Spawning Process:

    • They are substrate spawners, laying 500-3,000 eggs on a flat surface (rock or slate).
    • Eggs hatch in 3-5 days, and parents guard the fry aggressively.
  • Parental Care:

    • Both parents tend to the eggs and fry, ensuring survival.
    • If the pair becomes too aggressive, it may be necessary to separate them from other fish.

Tank Mates

  • Compatible Tank Mates:

    • Large cichlids (such as Jack Dempsey, Green Terror, or Severums).
    • Large, robust catfish (Plecos, Featherfin Catfish, or Bichirs).
    • Fast-moving, non-aggressive species like Silver Dollars.
  • Avoid:

    • Small fish (e.g., Guppies, Tetras, or Corydoras) – will be eaten.
    • Very aggressive fish (e.g., Flowerhorn, Red Devil Cichlid) – may lead to constant fighting.

Is the Red Oscar Right for You?

✅ Best for experienced aquarists with large tanks.
✅ Requires strong filtration and regular tank maintenance.
✅ Highly intelligent and interactive, making them a rewarding pet.
Not ideal for community tanks with smaller or peaceful fish.

The Red Oscar is a bold and entertaining fish, perfect for aquarists looking for an engaging and dynamic pet. With the right care, Oscars can become long-lived companions and even recognize their owners!

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

Q: I just completed my order, what's next?
A: Before shipment, we quarantine all fish for at least 24-48 hours. During this period, we closely monitor the fish to make sure they are healthy. We also do not feed them during this time in order to 'clean out' their digestive system and limit their ability to soil the water.  This helps reduce the amount of waste in the bag and will keep the water clean.

Q: When can I expect my order to be ship?
A: Please see Chart below (No Shipping on Holiday)

Order Placed on:

Ship Date:

Arrival Date: UPS Overnight

Arrival Date: Southwest

Monday

Wednesday

Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Thursday

Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

Monday

Tuesday

Friday

Thursday

Monday

Tuesday

Saturday

Friday

Monday

Tuesday

Sunday

Saturday

Monday

Tuesday

Monday

Sunday

Tuesday

Wed

Tuesday

Southwest: Depending on your location some cities have limited amount of flights per day. I will normally communicate this with you via email or text the arrival date and arrival time.

Note:  If the arrival date above don’t work for you please let me know on the note section upon check out on when you prefer to receive the package.

Q: Who delivers my order and how much?
A: UPS Next Day Air:
     For a low flat rate of $55 any where in the US with any size box.          

    Southwest:
    
For any order over $200 or order containing mostly large 4+ Males,
    we recommend Southwest Air Cargo for flat rate of $65.

Q: I just completed my order, what's next?
A: Before shipment, we quarantine all fish for at least 24-48 hours. During this period, we closely monitor the fish to make sure they are healthy. We also do not feed them during this time in order to 'clean out' their digestive system and limit their ability to soil the water.  This helps reduce the amount of waste in the bag and will keep the water clean.

Q: When can I expect my order to be ship?
A: Please see Chart below (No Shipping on Holiday)

Order Placed on:

Ship Date:

Arrival Date: UPS Overnight

Arrival Date: Southwest

Monday

Wednesday

Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Thursday

Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

Monday

Tuesday

Friday

Thursday

Monday

Tuesday

Saturday

Friday

Monday

Tuesday

Sunday

Saturday

Monday

Tuesday

Monday

Sunday

Tuesday

Wed

Tuesday

Southwest: Depending on your location some cities have limited amount of flights per day. I will normally communicate this with you via email or text the arrival date and arrival time.

Note:  If the arrival date above don’t work for you please let me know on the note section upon check out on when you prefer to receive the package.

Q: Who delivers my order and how much?
A: UPS Next Day Air:
     For a low flat rate of $55 any where in the US with any size box.          

    Southwest:
    
For any order over $200 or order containing mostly large 4+ Males,
    we recommend Southwest Air Cargo for flat rate of $65.

Q: Some or all of my fish arrived dead - what do I do?
A: We offer a Live Arrival Guarantee service for four hours after door delivery. In the event that a fish arrives dead in the shipping bag, you must take clear digital pictures of the fish in an unopened bag and email it to vegasvalleycichlids@gmail.com within four hours of receiving your package. Live Arrival Guarantee is voided after the bags have been opened.

VegasValleyCichlids.com will also refund (Not Store Credit) on any DOA'S that involve carrier mishandling, which includes delays (Less than 48 hours), damaged boxes or water temperature extremes. DOA's must be reported the day of arrival and be accompanied by an emailed photo to ensure refund.

    25% DOA
    We will refund 25% of shipping and the price of the DOA fish. 

   50% DOA
  
We will refund 50% of shipping the and price of the DOA fish.

   75% DOA
   We will refund 100% of shipping and 100% of all the fish.
   You keep the fishes that made it for FREE.

 

Q: Some or all of my fish arrived dead - what do I do?
A: We offer a Live Arrival Guarantee service for four hours after door delivery. In the event that a fish arrives dead in the shipping bag, you must take clear digital pictures of the fish in an unopened bag and email it to vegasvalleycichlids@gmail.com within four hours of receiving your package. Live Arrival Guarantee is voided after the bags have been opened.

VegasValleyCichlids.com will also refund (Not Store Credit) on any DOA'S that involve carrier mishandling, which includes delays (Less than 48 hours), damaged boxes or water temperature extremes. DOA's must be reported the day of arrival and be accompanied by an emailed photo to ensure refund.

    25% DOA
    We will refund 25% of shipping and the price of the DOA fish. 

   50% DOA
  
We will refund 50% of shipping the and price of the DOA fish.

   75% DOA
   We will refund 100% of shipping and 100% of all the fish.
   You keep the fishes that made it for FREE.

 

Red Oscar Red Oscar

Just added to your wishlist:
noimage
My Wishlist
You've just added this product to the cart:
noimage
Go to cart page