How to Breed Oscars
Oscars have become increasingly popular fish, especially among fish breeders. A member of the Cichlid family, the Oscar fish comes from South America and is a fresh-water fish. Breeding Oscars usually requires little intervention, but there are certain measures you can take to increase the likelihood of breeding. Be aware that when Oscars breed, they can produce upwards to 1,000 eggs and all of them can hatch. The Oscars often eat their own spawn so it is not likely that all of the hatched eggs will survive.
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Things You'll Need
- Pair of adult breeding Oscar fish
- 100-gallon fish tank or larger
- Two power filters
- 500-watt heater
- Siphoning tube
Instructions
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1
Purchase a pair of proven adult breeders. You cannot easily determine the sex of Oscar fish so the only way to know for sure is to raise several Oscars together and let them pair off naturally or buy proven breeders from a vendor. It is quicker to simply buy a proven pair from a vendor.
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2
Set up a fish tank that is at least 100 gallons. Do not put any rock, gravel, plants or decorations in the tank. Be sure the top of the tank is sturdy so that the fish cannot jump out. Install two power filters on the outside to help keep the water clean. Also install a 500-watt heater on the tank that lets you adjust the temperature.
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Put the pair of Oscars in the tank. It generally takes about one month for the fish to get accustomed to the tank.
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Feed the Oscar fish three times daily. They are not picky eaters; feed them "people" food such as chicken, turkey, and vegetable. You can also give them Cichlid pellets. The Oscars should be able to eat all of the food you put in the tank within two minutes. If they cannot, you are over feeding them.
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Keep the pH level in the tank at 6.8 or lower and the temperature between 80-82 degrees. This is ideal water for Oscars to breed.
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Siphon out 10 to 20 percent of the water in the tank every day. Get out as much of the large dirt and debris as possible.
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Watch for the mating ritual to begin. You may notice the Oscars wagging their fins a lot or perhaps even locking lips. They may also chase each other around or even fight. You do not need to intervene here---this is a normal part of the Oscar's courtship. The length of time this mating ritual lasts varies.
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Feed the Oscar's four times a day once they have begun the mating ritual. They need extra nourishment and food during breeding.
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Observe the tank for disruption at the bottom. The Oscar will lay her eggs at the space she has cleared at the bottom. Once you notice this disruption, eggs are soon to follow, usually in about three to ten days. Both of the Oscars will carefully guard this site.
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10
Remove any other fish from the tank, other than the breeding pair of Oscars. The other fish may eat the eggs or the newly hatched babies.
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References
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Comments
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I only have one Oscar in my tank will the eggs survive?
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My Oscars have been clearing gravel from one spot and cleaning off their flat rock.They have been chase each other around in circles.How can you say that 3 to 10 days later, there are eggs?
