The Oscar fish is a collective group of species that are sub-divided according to the unique characteristics they possess.
Due to the contrasting colors on its skin, they all are compositely called as Tiger Oscar fish, with scientific identification as Astronotus Ocellatus. Except few, most of its types are a bred artificially.
They are natives of the South American tropical zone, and are popularly listed as a favorite food item among fish lovers.
With easy transportability, it has gained commercial importance in major countries like the USA, Europe, China, India, and Australia.
Let us understand some more about this cichlid.
What Does an Oscar Fish Look Like?
This specie has fetched a few names like Tiger Oscar, Marble Cichlid, and Velvet Cichlid, which describe the fish’s colors, sweet texture, and classic style.
Their dorsal fins stretch from the shoulder towards the back. They are shorter towards the head and increase in a synchronous fashion towards the tail. The caudal fins are of significant size in a triangular shape and appear as if they were nicely combed.
The body has a rectangular or oval shape, and looks fleshy with a soft texture over the skin. Their mouth appears wide and stays open all the time they swim.
The fat body structure makes them slow swimmers. It can attain a maximum length of 18 inches.
This fish has a unique body mark on the caudal fin in orange, usually called an “eye-spot” or “ocelli.”
Read here: Oscar Fish Tank Setup and Breeding
Types of Oscars
We have listed out the top 17 different types of Oscar fish, describing their unique features, behavior, adaptability, price, and much more.
Albino Tiger Oscar Fish
| Albino Tiger Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Pure white with red spots in a unique pattern |
| Size | 14 inches |
| Fins | Long &feathery |
| Tank Size | 75 gallons |
| Price | $30 – $40 |
| Behavior | Highly aggressive &territorial |
| Max Lifespan | 20 years |
The Albino Oscar is considered among the original fish from the source. It looks dashing in its milky white color with rounded protruding eyes, displaying a ruby-red shade in the middle, enclosed in an off-white frame.
They have beautifully patterned red or orange color circular dots that begin from their head towards their stomach, and sometimes fins. Any two fishes in their category behave in the same way.
These are often called Longfin Albino Oscar due to the extra-large fins, which look like the white feathers of a bird, floating in the water.
The black patches over the fins are a peculiar condition observed in them. It determines the fish’s health issues, which may worsen over time and spread to other parts of the body.
Albino Oscar Care Style
Unlike the co-species, Tiger Oscar, this Albino Oscar is far more retaliative and territorial in its temperament.
Severum, Cichlid, Arowanas, Jack Dempsey, Plecos, etc., are a few compatible tank mates. But avoid smaller fish like Guppies, Neon Tetra, etc.
The full-grown Albino Oscar grows to be about 14 inches long, requiring at least 75 gallons of tank space. If you put extra fish in the same aquarium, then increase the volume by 100 gallons or more.
The shop owners put them on sale at an average price of $25, which depends on the fish’s current age as they have a long life of up to 20 years.
Tiger Oscar Fish
| Tiger Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Black with reddish |
| Size | 12 inches |
| Fins | Medium size &straight erected |
| Tank Size | 125 gallons |
| Price | $10 – $20 |
| Behavior | Very simple |
| Lifespan | 12 years |
The Tiger Oscars are among the parental species that earned their name due to the significant color patterns resembling the land animal.
This fish is in a grayish black shade with broad marks of red or orange throughout the body in no fixed pattern. A circular orange color patch can be seen near the tail-fin, which looks almost like an eye.
A full-grown Tigercan get as big as 12 inches in length and look fantastic as an adult tiger cichlid.
Tiger Oscar Care
Due to their peaceful, friendly behavior, they like to swim with other fish in the aquarium, thus, you must arrange a tank size of a minimum of 125 gallons.
These prefer omnivores’ diet, and primarily eat shrimps, or worms in the wild. You can also offer them pellets & flakes.
It can live with all sorts of fishes that are of similar size, and temperament. The most compatible tank mates of Tiger Oscars are Common Pleco, Sailfin Pleco, Green Terror Cichlids, and other Oscars.
Being a peaceful, good-looking fish, they are in high demand, and one can purchase them for approximately $15.
Veil Tail Oscar
| Veil Tail Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Various colors: orange, red, or black |
| Size | 13 inches |
| Fins | Floating tail fin |
| Tank Size | 100 gallons |
| Price | $10 – $25 |
| Behavior | Territorial |
| Lifespan | 14 years |
It is one of the peculiar Oscars with an extended tail fin that appears to fan while the fish swims.
Along with the caudal fin, the dorsal, pectoral, and anal fins are also longer than normal. The fins of Veil Tail Oscars have a thin and translucent texture.
They are available in multiple shades of reddish to blackish, with small dots or a continuous line from tail to head.
It has a stiff nature and does not allow other mates to enter its self-allotted territory, whether in an aquarium or in the wild.
Veil Tail Oscar Care
These fish, on average, achieves 13 inches size, but a well-fed species can attain 16 inches at maximum length, which lists them among the biggest Oscars.
It has a tendency to grow faster than other Oscars, and can grow as fast as 1 inch per month on a nutritional diet.
Hence, along with frozen or live shrimps, worms, supplements, etc., you must also take care to provide them with ample tank space of about 100 gallons for maximum growth.
The Veil Tail Oscar is available for sale between $10 and $25. Aquarists find them difficult to maintain in an aquarium, but with perfect conditions, they can complete a lifespan of 14 years.
Red Oscar Cichlid
| Red Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | A mix of red and black |
| Size | 15 inches |
| Fins | Short and straight |
| Tank Size | 55 gallons |
| Price | $12 – $15 |
| Behavior | Anguish |
| Lifespan | 14 years |
This is also described as the Chilli Red Oscar fish because of the color combination on its skin. These fish are naturally decorated in bright orange or deep red, shaded with a black base.
They are initially a combination of white with orange, which eventually turns into black and reddish as they age to become adults.
Instead of spots or lines, they possess a plain red color over the belly and fins, while the head is usually white, which morphs into black.
Red Oscar Care
These super red Oscar fish indulges in hostile interactions with the tank mates, and thus you must provide them about 60-gallon aquarium to thrive comfortably.
They can attain 15 inches length when fully grown, so you can keep them with similar peaceful species, or any small size fish that do not try intermingling.
You can buy this Oscar fish online for approximately $15.
Bumblebee Oscar Fish
| Bumblebee Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Grayishbase with yellow strips |
| Size | 10 inches |
| Fins | Medium-sized with spiny edges |
| Tank Size | 90 gallons |
| Price | $29 – $45 |
| Behavior | Semi-aggressive, schooling fish |
| Lifespan | 10 years |
As the name suggests, this fish resembles a honey bee due to the shaded pattern of yellow and black.
The Bumblebee Oscar portrays deep yellow irregularly shaped strips, patches, or spots over a black or grayish body surface, which is mostly on the face and stomach portion.
The fins are generally black with yellow edges. The dorsal fin of this Oscar Cichlid has small spines-like structures on the top, while it enlarges into a triangular shape towards the tail.
The caudal fin is broadly triangular and seems connected with the dorsal and anal fins.
The eyes appear as large circular reflectors, contrasting the black face.
Bumblebee Oscar Care
The maximum length that it can attain is 10 inches. Because Oscar is a fast-moving species, you should pet them in at least 90 gallons of tank volume to allow for stress-free movement and easy growth.
The Bumblebee Oscars are semi-aggressive fish that show their schooling behavior, usually during the early stages.
They prefer a carnivore diet and often predate on small fishes in the aquarium; however, these fish can stay in harmony with larger Oscars or in the community.
They are sold under the identification name Astronotus Crassipinnis at an average rate of $35.
Green Oscar Fish
| Green Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Green; dark &light |
| Size | 11 inches |
| Fins | Normal size, green with black edges |
| Tank Size | 100 gallons |
| Price | $22 – $35 |
| Behavior | Aggressivewith small fish |
| Lifespan | 13 years |
These are graceful species in complete green coloration, and seem to promote greenery in the environment.
The Green Oscars, as the name implies, have multiple shades of the color displayed evenly on their bodies. Along with green, it also has a few light orange spots on the belly portion.
The fins darken in the middle to achieve a black shade, and the trademark “ocelli” or eye spot is brightly visible in black under the yellow framing at the caudal fin.
Green Oscar Care
This fish attains a length of 13 inches at the maximum, which is similar to other Oscars in the wild.
They need large space for swift movements, and a tank with a minimum of 100 gallons is most suitable for keeping one of them.
It can adjust with tank mates like Plecos, Black Pacus, etc., but remember to increase the tank volume accordingly. Avoid too many decorative items or toys in the Green Oscar’s aquarium, as it reduces the movement space and irritates the fish.
Feeding them nutritious supplements like flakes, wafers, and pellets along with meat (live or frozen) will enhance their lustrous shine.
You can buy them through Amazon’s online sale or other sites for approximately $25.
Black And White Oscar Fish
| Black And White Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Black, white, and gray |
| Size | 15 inches |
| Fins | Black fins with sharp edges inwhite |
| Tank Size | 80 gallons |
| Price | $8 – $15 |
| Behavior | Hostile with mates |
| Lifespan | 20 years |
The fish are easily recognizable due to the casual shades of black and white. They possess a black body with a few random dots of white over the stomach, and off-white patches.
Their face are usually in the gray shade, which gives a non-glamorous or ugly appearance.
The dorsal fins of this Black And White Cichlid are small and off-white towards the shoulder and turn gray at the back. It has pointed edges that can severely hurt predators.
Black And White Oscar Care
They easily reach a size of 15 inches, whether kept in captivity or while staying in the wild.
As the fish holds hostility towards other species, it is best to pet them only with Oscars; or if it is a community tank, then ensure sufficient space for movement.
Putting them in a singly occupied tank with at least 80 gallons of space means they can live a healthy life and complete almost 20 years without any issues.
But it still requires nutritious food and suitable water conditions for long-lasting survival. It comes in at a price of $10 on an average online sale.
Lemon Tiger Oscar Fish
| Lemon Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Lemon Yellow |
| Size | 9 inches |
| Fins | Entirely yellow, long anal and pelvic fins |
| Tank Size | 75 gallons |
| Price | $60 – $90 |
| Behavior | Peaceful and friendly |
| Lifespan | 15 years |
This is a delightful sub-species of the Tiger Oscar family, as its flamboyance attracts a lot of fish keepers from around the world.
The Lemon Oscar seems to be painted entirely in the lemon shade, with a few patches of pale color or whiteness seen in some specimens raised in wild conditions.
These fish have long fins that are light in texture and seem to float with the wave. The pelvic and anal fins are larger in size than other Oscar species.
Lemon Oscar Fish Care
A full-size Lemon Tiger Oscar may grow as long as 12 inches, but most of the time, they only attain a length of around 9 inches.
Also known as Sunshine Lemon Oscars, these are considered rare types because of their negligible availability in the wild and can only be bred under intense monitoring.
They are friendly and adaptable with other fish in the tank and can live in a minimum of a 75 gallons aquarium.
It is a carnivore species that must be fed with protein-rich meat products such as live, frozen, or supplements to maintain vibrancy in appearance.
Due to its lively color combination, the Lemon Oscar is in high demand among aquarists. Its selling price may reach close to $75 per piece or even higher, depending upon the size and age.
Black Oscar Fish
| Black Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Black base with orange spots |
| Size | 12 inches |
| Fins | Short size, blackish shade |
| Tank Size | 60 gallons |
| Price | $18 – $24 |
| Behavior | Introvert and semi-aggressive |
| Lifespan | 8 years |
One can easily make out from its name that these fish are of black coloration. But these are not entirely in one shade, as there are spots and stripes in orange and light yellow across the stomach portion.
The fins of Black Oscar fish have a similar structure to the Tiger Oscar fish, but are black with white or yellowish corners.
A peculiar lining of red is seen in the eyes of some of these species, while the ocelli are brightly visible in orange at the tail fin.
Black Oscar Fish Care
A full-grown Black Oscar can reach up to 12 inches in length, but being a slight introvert, it can settle down well in a minimum of 60 gallons tank size.
It enjoys a short life in the aquarium but, in ideal conditions, can survive for 8 – 10 years.
The fish is regularly available, and due to its ease of breeding and average demand, it can be purchased through online stores for about $20.
Florida Oscar Fish
| Florida Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Black body with red strips |
| Size | 14 inches |
| Fins | Blunt edges with blackish shade |
| Tank Size | 85 gallons |
| Price | $25 – $30 |
| Behavior | Intrusive |
| Lifespan | 12 years |
The Florida Oscar fish, because they are suitably found in the Florida region of South America.
The fish appears almost the same as the parent fish, the Tiger Oscar, but possesses a brighter and shiny shade than the parent species.
It has a black body with few noticeable red spots on the upper part of the body, excluding the fins, which are fully black in color, and have blunt edges.
Florida Oscar Fish
These subspecies, when fully grown in an aquarium, can become as long as 14 inches, although they require a highly nutritious diet.
For quick growth and maintaining the shine on the scales, you must consider feeding them with fresh or live shrimps, bloodworms, or pellets and flakes.
They often misbehave with the tank mates due to their intolerability towards other creatures in the limited space.
To avoid creating irritation in their behavior, you should introduce other mates at a few intervals instead of putting them together.
They are exclusively sold around the Florida region, but you can buy them online from anywhere around the world at an average price of $22.
Lutino Tiger Oscar Fish
| Lutino Tiger Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Light Yellowish body with orange spots |
| Size | 13 inches |
| Fins | White fins with vertical orange strips |
| Tank Size | 65 Gallons |
| Price | $15 – $22 |
| Behavior | Barbaric |
| Lifespan | 12 years |
A prominent duplicate of the Albino types is the Lutino Oscar fish. These two fish are almost identical in appearance, shape, and size.
The Lutinos are identified separately due to their yellowish-white skin color, while the Albino’s is milky white.
Other than the difference in base color, the orange spots or lines covering the body and fins are almost the same in both species.
It also has fascinating orange-colored eyes, protruding from a circular duct and a golden hue in the surrounding area.
Lutino Oscar Care
An adult Lutino gains an approximate size of 13 inches in a captive region provided they receive sufficient protein-rich food and optimum parameters in the tank.
These are highly territorial fish and somewhat combative in nature. It is hard to find suitable tank mates for making a community tank, as they do not tend to adjust well to others in a closed space.
You should provide them a minimum of 65 gallons space, and prefer keeping them with similar species. However, in some cases, Sailfin Pleco, Silver Dollar, and Firemouth Cichlids survive with them while being defensive.
The Lutino Oscars are usually supplied as an alternative to Albinos and can be purchased from an online sales store at an average rate of $18.
Blue Tiger Oscar Fish
| Blue Tiger Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Peacock blue with yellow |
| Size | 11 inches |
| Fins | Shades of blue with translucent outlines |
| Tank Size | 70 Gallons |
| Price | $26 – $30 |
| Behavior | Very aggressive |
| Lifespan | 10 years |
The Blue Oscar Cichlids are attention-seekers from the Oscars family, as the neon blue coloration on their bodies makes them stand out significantly in the aquarium.
These fish are a result of crossbreeding multiple species of Oscars to develop unique patterns on their scales.
The upper part of the fish’s body is colored in a peacock blue shade with a wide patch of yellow at the bottom. The stomach portion has spotted designs in a mixed shade of reddish and yellow.
The fins appear smooth and sober in the entire blue coloration, where caudal fins are in a dark shade, while pectoral fins are lighter and translucent.
Blue Oscar Care
These fish become hostile with a slight disturbance in the environment. So, it is best to put them in a 70 gallon or higher volume tank, considering that they can get as long as 11 inches.
It is easy to pet these fish as they quickly adapt to the existing environment, and do not get affected by slight changes in the water parameters.
You can buy the Blue Oscar online at an approximate cost of $27.
Gold Tiger Oscar Fish
| Gold Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Golden mixed with gray |
| Size | 12 inches |
| Fins | Moderate size, yellowish gold with gray edges |
| Tank Size | 80 gallons |
| Price | $32 – $40 |
| Behavior | Territorial |
| Lifespan | 11 years |
The Golden Oscar fish looks like a symbol of kingship or a gold trophy to a winner.
It appears similar to the parent Tiger Oscar fish, but here the entire body displays a metallic gold shine except for the upper portion of the head, which is in a gray shade.
The fins have sharp pointed edges, which are in a gray shade, while the rest of the part of the fin is in a golden coloration. Their eyes look fantastic with black color covered in a gold ring.
Gold Oscar Fish Care
A young or newborn species usually has a yellow shade on the body, but a well-fed juvenile kept in optimum temperatures quickly develops the vibrancy of gold on the skin.
A full-grown adult Gold Oscar can reach a length of 12 inches. Therefore, they should be kept in an aquarium with 80 gallons of space.
They can stay comfortably in a species-only tank as they are territorial and usually do not accept other types of fish.
The fish is considered a rare Oscar species and can be purchased through online fish stores at an average rate of $35.
Blueberry Oscar Fish
| Blueberry Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Blueberry or light blue shade |
| Size | 14 inches |
| Fins | Pointed outlines in blue and white shade |
| Tank Size | 60 gallons |
| Price | $35 – $40 |
| Behavior | Combative |
| Lifespan | 9 years |
These sub-species are specifically named after the fruit, “Blueberry” because it seems to be painted in the same shade from top to bottom.
The Blueberry Oscar fish is entirely in a sky-blue shade with a few patches of whiteness mixed with it.
The fins are stiff and straight, with spiked corners, and in a lighter shade of blue. A few orange spots are also visible in the stomach area.
The eyes are uniquely highlighted in a bright yellow shade.
Blueberry Oscar Fish
In the wild, this fish can grow to be 14 inches, but when kept in an aquarium it can only grow to be 12 inches long.
These are extremely territorial in nature and find it difficult to adjust to other mates. The most suitable fishes that can stay with Blueberry Oscar are Green Terrors, Arowanas, Silver Dollars, Firemouth Cichlids, etc.
A 60 gallon tank is perfect for them to be kept as a single fish. These species are in high demand, and you can get them through online sales for around $35.
White Oscar Fish
| Blueberry Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | White shade |
| Size | 14 inches |
| Fins | Small spines on the edges, plain white color |
| Tank Size | 70 Gallons |
| Price | $20 – $30 |
| Behavior | Introvert |
| Lifespan | 15 years |
These species are purely white color sub-species of Oscar types, and although they resemble Albinos, they possess significant differences from the latter.
The White Oscar fish has negligible traces of any spots on the body, and instead, there is a slight pigmentation of a pinkish shade mixed into the white base.
The fins look delicate like feathers but are of moderate size, and are in plain white form, while the eyes have a tint of yellow ring framing the black portion.
White Oscar Care
These species are developed in closed conditions after a crossbreed of multiple parent species to get this peculiar appearance.
They easily size-up to 14 inches in an aquarium and do not require any special care or maintenance. You can pet them in a 70 gallon tank space with species-only mates.
The White Oscars can be purchased at an average rate of $24.
Copper Oscar Fish
| Copper Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Black with copper-red |
| Size | 14 inches |
| Fins | Spiked dorsal fin, copper color with blackish edge |
| Tank Size | 100 gallons |
| Price | $14 – $20 |
| Behavior | Intrusive |
| Lifespan | 8 years |
The Copper Oscar fish possess an exclusive shade of dark pink on its scales.
Most of the body part of the fish appears in copper shade apart from the upper head, which is in dark black or gray.
The same is with the edges of the fins, which have an outline of a blackish color. The eyes also have a copper lining.
Copper Oscar Care
These species are special morphs of Oscars and achieve an average length of 12 inches in captivity, while if you feed them a healthy diet, they may extend up to 14 inches.
The Copper Oscar can settle down comfortably in a 100 gallon aquarium, with few tank mates that are of similar size and less aggressive. While being carnivores by nature, they may predate the small ones.
These species are easily available for sale at online stores, and you can buy them at $16 per piece.
Wild Oscar Fish
| Wild Oscar Fish Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shade | Black with orange or yellow marking |
| Size | 16 inches |
| Fins | Pointed spines on large fanning black fins |
| Tank Size | 120 Gallons |
| Price | $12 – $18 |
| Behavior | Aggressive and territorial |
| Lifespan | 18 years |
These are among the primary species of the Oscar Cichlids, and as the name describes, they are easily available in the freshwaters of the South American continent.
The Wild Oscar is a blackish or grayish-colored fish with an un-patterned design of white, yellow, or orangish strips or patches.
The fins are larger than usual with grooved lines in parallel and are black in design with small patches of yellowish shade.
These haphazard patterns create visual disturbances for the predators and protect them in open waters.
Wild Oscar Care
These species are hardy and can survive extreme conditions. However, you must take care to arrange tropical parameters in the aquarium that suit them.
They can size-up 16 inches, and are among the biggest Oscar fishes. You must provide them ample space, which is about 120 gallon.
They show a high territorial attitude and do not easily adjust to other species, but you can keep Jack Dempsey, Firemouth Cichlids, and Silver Dollars. etc., with them.
The Wild Oscars can be purchased from online stores for around $14.
Final Words
The Oscars have always been a fish of high interest among the aquarists. With many different types of Oscar fish available on the market, the keepers get numerous options to glam their aquarium by enabling contrasting color effects.
Being a fish in high demand, some of these types are a bit expensive, but once you have them in your home tanks, it always relieves your mood with their sensibility.
Since most of them are of aggressive temperament, it is always advised to pet them in a species only tank or prefer only Oscar fish types in it.
