Copper Oscar

fish description – Copper Oscar Care Guide ($Astronotus\ ocellatus$ ‘Copper’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Astronotus\ ocellatus$ (‘Copper’ Strain)
Common Name	Copper Oscar, Copper Red Oscar, Velvet Cichlid
Origin	Amazon and Orinoco River Basins (Selectively Bred Strain)
Adult Size	10–12 inches (25–30 cm)
Temperament	Semi-aggressive, Highly Territorial, Predatory (will eat small fish)
Lifespan	10–20+ years
Care Level	Advanced (due to size, aggression, waste, and long-term commitment)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A bulky, oval-shaped cichlid with a large head and mouth. The ‘Copper’ strain is noted for its beautiful metallic bronze or reddish-orange base color, often combined with black marbling (like the Tiger strain) and a distinctive ocellus (eye-spot) near the tail.
• Coloration: Varies, but defined by the copper/bronze hues. Sexing is impossible until breeding; the male and female look identical (sexually monomorphic) but form monogamous pairs that clean a flat surface for egg-laying.
• Fins: Large, powerful fins.
• Behavior: Highly intelligent and interactive, often recognizing their owners. They are notoriously messy eaters and diggers, capable of rearranging any unsecured decor. Juveniles can be belligerent, and adults are fiercely territorial.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons (280 liters) is the absolute minimum for a single adult. 125 gallons or larger is required for a pair or if keeping with robust tank mates. They require long tanks.
• Schooling: Best kept singly or in a monogamous pair (once bonded).
• Temperature: Tropical range: $75^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$28^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (ideally $77^\circ$–$79^\circ\text{F}$).
• pH Level: Highly adaptable: 6.0 to 7.5. They require massive filtration (oversized canister filters are mandatory) and large, frequent water changes (30–50% weekly) to control the huge bioload and prevent Hole-in-the-Head disease (HITH). Water flow should be moderate.
• Aquascape: Keep simple. Requires a soft sand or smooth gravel substrate (essential for digging). Decorate with a few large, securely anchored rocks and driftwood that they cannot move. Avoid live plants as they will be uprooted, eaten, or destroyed. All equipment (heaters, etc.) should be guarded.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Copper Oscar is an omnivore, with a highly carnivorous and opportunistic diet.

• Staple Diet: High-quality large cichlid pellets or sticks formulated for large, omnivorous cichlids.
• Supplementation: A varied, protein-rich diet is essential for color and health. Offer frozen or live foods regularly: Krill, Shrimp, Earthworms, Mysis, and Bloodworms. Blanched vegetables should be offered occasionally for roughage. Avoid mammalian meat and unquarantined feeder fish.
• Schedule: Feed small portions 1–2 times daily (juveniles need 2-3 small feedings daily). Do not overfeed.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Will eat any fish that fits in its mouth. Highly territorial, especially when breeding. Requires robust, similarly sized tank mates that can withstand rough treatment and competition for food.
• Good Tank Mates (in very large tanks): Other large, sturdy, semi-aggressive South American fish. Examples include Bichirs, Jack Dempseys, Green Terrors, Silver Dollars, large Plecos (e.g., Panaque), and large Catfish (Synodontis, Raphael Catfish).