My little Oscar

Question
Hello!

About a month ago, I purchased myself a Red Tiger Oscar. I am keeping this beautiful fish in a Ten Gallon tank right now because he is only about an inch and a half.

And that is the problem. I have done a lot of research and I have found that Oscars will grow up to a half inch a month, especially at it's juvenile stage it is in now. I am feeding it Wardley's Tropical Flakes and it seems to enjoy them a lot.

I was thinking I should change the kind of food I am feeding it, but it is still so small.

Any suggestions?

-Joel

Answer
Hi Joel,
 Oscars grow quickly.  Flakes are fine for now. As it gets larger, start feeding it cichlid sticks or pellets.  I strongly advise you to resist the urge to feed it live feeder fish. Feeder fish, typically goldfish, carry lots of diseases and I can't tell you how many oscars I have heard of dying after eating a bad feeder fish. It happens all the time and it is very regretable.  

 You will need to get a larger aquarium in the near future. You should consider something along the lines of a 55 gallon tank if you want your oscar to be happy and healthy.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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