How to Feed Oscars Crickets

Oscar fish--scientifically known as Astronotus ocellatus--are a type of freshwater cichlid native to South America. Popular with aquarists for their beauty, size and intelligence, Oscars can grow to almost a foot and a half in length. With proper care, they can live for 8 to 12 years in a freshwater aquarium. Oscars are carnivorous in the wild, consuming aquatic invertebrates, smaller fish and insects. In captivity, they are enthusiastic feeders, hence their affectionate nickname "water pigs." By following some guidelines for feeding, you can offer crickets as a safe and healthy addition to your Oscar's diet.

Instructions

1. Feed crickets to your Oscar fish no more than 3 days a week. Although crickets are a nutritious treat for your Oscar, they should not form the bulk of its diet. Crickets should be offered as a supplement to an assortment of high-protein fare, including a core diet of high-quality commercial cichlid pellets 4 days a week, augmented with frozen bloodworms, frozen krill, beef heart, spinach and live mealworms the other 3 days.

2. Offer your Oscar freeze-dried crickets, available at pet stores, for the best and safest way of feeding crickets. Most high-quality brands of commercial freeze-dried crickets have already been "gut-loaded"--fed a high-calcium diet--before being freeze-dried; these are particularly beneficial for your Oscar. In addition to the extra calcium, all the other nutrients in the cricket are preserved intact by the freeze-drying process. Most Oscars will take the freeze-dried crickets willingly; many owners report that they can feed these treats to their fish by hand.

3. Feed your Oscar crickets purchased from a reputable pet store, if you choose to feed live crickets, and remove the hind legs before feeding; crickets can put up a fight and there is a small chance the spines on the legs could injure the fish's mouth. To avoid the risk of introducing pesticides or parasites, never feed your Oscar crickets you caught yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Never give your Oscar "feeder fish, " the cheap goldfish sold at pet stores as snake food. According to the World Cichlids website, these fish harbor a host of diseases that could be deadly to your Oscar, including ich, fungus, gill flukes and bacterial diseases.

• Use caution when trying to teach your Oscar to take food from your hand, especially if your Oscar is large. These fish can deliver a painful nip.

References

• World Cichlids: Oscar FAQ
• Aquarium Guys: Oscar Fish Care
• Fish Tank Guide: Breeding Oscar Fish