Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a freshwater species recorded in Singapore, United States.
Scientific name: Astronotus ocellatus · Water: Freshwater
Size: up to 45.7 cm
The oscar is a cichlid that prefers quiet shallow water and is mostly found in mud-bottomed and sand-bottomed canals and ponds. It feeds on small fishes, crayfish, worms and insect larvae. It is popular with aquarists but not with fish farmers, because it grows slowly; in South America, however, it is a highly esteemed food fish. It is native to the western Amazon and Orinoco basins and has been introduced elsewhere. It is a freshwater species at pH 6 to 8 and about 22 to 25 degrees Celsius, reaching about 45.7 cm total length, commonly 24 cm, and up to about 1.6 kg. It supports commercial fisheries and is a game fish and a highly commercial aquarium species, with a trophic level of 2.8, moderate fishing vulnerability at 36 of 100, and high resilience.
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