Red Chili Oscar
Live Fish
Shipping & Returns
All live fish are shipped using NZPost overnight services with authority to leave (no signature).
We cannot guarantee the overnight services, this is a service that we/you pay for; but is not guaranteed.
We DO NOT offer returns on any alive animal.
Above are key points of our policy, Click Here to read our full shipping policy.
Dead On Arrival (DOA) Cover*
- DOA must be reported within 2 hours of delivery.
- Bags must remain sealed (do not remove rubber band or tape)
- Photos & Videos must be supplied this can be emailed or sent through live chat; including your order No. (minimum 3 clear images, showing dead fish & sealed bag)
- DOA does not apply once the bags are opened & fish have been released.
- DOA does not apply to any Rural (RD) address.
Introducing New Fish
Follow these steps to minimize stress and ensure a smooth transition for your new fish!
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Float the Bag: Place the sealed bag containing the new fish in the tank. This equalizes the temperature between bag and tank water.
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Open and Add Tank Water Gradually: After about 5 minutes, open the bag and add a small amount of aquarium water into it every 5 minutes for 15–30 minutes. This helps the fish acclimate to the tank’s water chemistry.
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Wait 15–30 Minutes: Let the fish adjust to the water temperature and chemistry gradually in the bag.
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Release Fish: Gently release the fish into the tank without pouring the original bag water in.
Red Chili Oscar
The Oscar is an ornamental variant of the popular Astronotus ocellatus Oscar. With its elegant, flowing fins, the Oscar makes a colorful and active addition to a large aquarium.
The Oscar requires a large aquarium of at least 350L with a deep sand bottom and a few large rocks. They will dig up plants so any plants that are in the aquarium should be potted with the root surfaces covered with rocks. Using floating plants is a good compromise to this problem. Tiny Oscars form a tight cluster for protection and this is normal behavior for juvenile fish. Large Oscars are not as territorial as most other cichlids when full grown but will consume anything they can fit into their mouths.
A large aquarium should be used for breeding, as large as 400L if possible. Oscars will spawn in soft or hard water as long as it is clean and clear and has a temperature between 79-86°F. It is hard to tell the difference between the male and females, but during spawning the female has obvious genital papilla. The female will lay from 1,000-2,000 eggs on rocks that have been carefully cleaned. The eggs are opaque at first, turning transparent in 24 hours. The brood will be carefully guarded and cared for and the fry will be kept in pits and may even be covered. When they are free-swimming, the fry should be fed Cyclops. Sometimes the fry will cling to their parents.
The Oscar is a carnivore that is a predaceous and hearty eater. Oscars will eat a variety of meaty foods, including small fish and earthworms, Cichlid pellets, larger flake food, ocean plankton, bloodworms, and tubifex worms.
Care
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi - Aggressive
Colour Form: Assorted
Diet: Carnivore
Max Size: 25cm
Origin: South America
Family: Cichlidae
Tank Size: 350L
Temperature: 23 - 30c
pH: 6.0 - 8.0
*Product Photo is for reference only, exact size and colour may vary, if required, please feel free to contact us for exact photos prior to purchase.
