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.
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.
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.
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).





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