sex

Question
How do I know the sex of Oscars.I have 2 but I can't tell the sex. I've got an alge eater also but do I need 2 since I've got a 55 gallon tank

Answer
Hi Bruce

Whew! I have to admit, I was a little nervous by the subject :-/

Visually sexing Oscars is difficult, if not impossible. Males and females look the same. Many theories exist such as color variances and aggressiveness, the shape of the head, spots on the tail or gills. Others say the female is larger. However, these theories are all false. The only way to sex an Oscar is to look underneath the fish. To the rear of the fish between the anus and the anal fin, is the sex organ. In the females, it is a small hole. In the male, it is a phallic. However, these are not noticeable without magnification, and holding a fish upside down under a magnifying glass is difficult to say the least.

The common Algae Eater is not a good match for an Oscar. When the Oscars are large enough, they will gobble up the Algae Eater. The best bottom feeder for an Oscar tank is a large Pleco that is similar in size to the Oscars.

Hope this helps you, good luck!

Richard