{"product_id":"red-tiger-oscar-2-5-3","title":"Red Tiger Oscar","description":"\u003cp\u003eRed Tiger Oscars are a selectively bred color form of \u003cem\u003eAstronotus ocellatus\u003c\/em\u003e — a cichlid native to the Amazon River basin and one of the most intelligent fish most hobbyists will ever keep. In the wild, these fish cruise slow, turbid backwaters and floodplain lakes, hunting by sight and ambushing smaller fish and invertebrates with a speed that contradicts their laid-back cruising pace. In a tank, they bring that same predatory intelligence to the glass and direct it at you — Oscars learn to recognize individual people, associate them with food, and will come up for hand-feeding within weeks of settling in. That's not anthropomorphizing, that's just how their brain works.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey grow fast and they grow large. A healthy Oscar can hit 10–12\" in its first two years, which means the 75-gallon minimum is a starting point, not a long-term plan. A 125+ gallon single-specimen or species-compatible setup is where they truly thrive. They're messy eaters and heavy waste producers — biological filtration needs to be seriously oversized and water changes consistent, because ammonia spikes will shut down their immune system fast.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStock with fish large enough not to be a meal: other large cichlids, armored catfish like \u003cem\u003eSynodontis\u003c\/em\u003e or large plecos, or similar-sized species with the reflexes to avoid getting cornered. Avoid feeder goldfish — nutritionally poor and a reliable vector for disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Astronotus ocellatus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Amazon River basin, South America — slow-moving backwaters, oxbow lakes, and floodplains\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e Temp 75–80°F · pH 6.0–7.5 · Hardness 5–20 dGH\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank requirements:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75 gal minimum; 125+ gal preferred for a single adult\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carnivore — large cichlid pellets as a staple; supplement with earthworms, frozen meaty foods\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e Predatory; stock with similarly-sized species only\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHusbandry note:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oscars stress easily and show it through ich. Stable temperatures, pristine water quality, and a varied diet are the best prevention — an oversized filter and a reliable heater are non-negotiable with this species.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"YoCamron's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"2.5-3\" \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50337311949037,"sku":"FOOSC1503","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (3\") \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50337311981805,"sku":"FOOSC1504","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (4-5\") \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50337312014573,"sku":"FOOSC1506","price":112.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0806\/1032\/8813\/files\/lg_Tiger_Oscar_39376_a916f3c7-e750-4be1-84c0-f1c608b2d3e2.jpg?v=1784692698","url":"https:\/\/www.yocamronsaquatics.com\/products\/red-tiger-oscar-2-5-3","provider":"YoCamron's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}