Chilli Red Oscar

The Chilli Red Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), is a large cichlid originally native to the slow-moving rivers and floodplains of the Amazon Basin in South America. This morph is prized for its deep red coloration that covers most of the body, often with minimal white patterning on it's face.

Key Care Points:

• Behavior & Swimming: Semi-aggressive and very intelligent. Oscars are interactive with their keepers and can even be hand-fed. They are powerful mid-to-bottom swimmers and will rearrange tank decor to their liking. Best kept in large tanks with oscars and other robust fish.

• Diet: Omnivorous but prefers a protein-rich diet. Feed high-quality cichlid pellets, supplemented with anything m frozen shrimp, earthworms, crickets, and occasional vegetables.

• Lifespan: Can live 10–15 years with proper care.

• Max Size: Grows up to 12–14 inches (30–35 cm) in captivity.

• Growth Rate: Very fast; juveniles can grow 1 inch per month under good conditions, reaching half their adult size in the first year.

The Chilli Red Oscar’s bold personality and vivid color make it a centerpiece fish for large cichlid aquariums. It's known to be a hardy fish that's easy to maintain.