breeding oscars

Question
Hi, I currently have a 90 gallon tank with a tiger Oscar, and an albino Oscar, and a jackdimpsy. I also have a 55 gallon tank with a couple of Oscars. I was wanting to be able to breed my Oscars, and was wondering how you can tell which are female, and which are male? I also wanted to know what is necessary to breed them? bigger tank ect...

Answer
Dear Veronica,
Taking the plunge into breeding oscars is quite a commitment and adventure. Unfortunately it is near-impossible to tell the difference between male and female oscars, and the only way to know is to watch them spawn and see who is the one laying eggs! Even if you know which were male and female, artificial pairing (putting a male and female together) often does not work out as planned because either one may not accept each-other.
The best way to begin the adventure of breeding oscars is to start with a large aquarium, such as a 75gal and ideally much bigger and start with 6-8 young oscars of about 1 inch or so. This allows your oscars to pair up naturally and this works out much better. You then must find a home for the other oscars (petstores may be willing to take them in)

Once you have a bonded pair of Oscars, it's pretty easy to breed them and you basically have to leave them alone to do their thing. A pair can be seen by their ritualistic courtship of jaw-locking and tail slapping. When ready to spawn oscars will clean off a suitable spawning site on a flat rock and the female will lay her eggs there. Spawning size can number from 1000 to 2000 eggs. After they are laid both parents look over them, fanning the eggs with their fins and guarding them.

The eggs will hatch after a few days. The best temperature to keep oscars at typically ranges at 79-82F. After about 36 hours the eggs will hatch. Fortunately after the wigglers have absorbed their yolk sac after about four days, they can be fed powdered flake food but you could also try yours on live food and frozen foods for variety. Baby brine shrimp or daphnia are just a few foods you could try.

I really hope this helps!
Remember to plan for the future of the hundreds of fry that can result from a spawn. Sometimes the first several spawns can prove unsucessful. But with time the pair will get it right eventually.

I really hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Karen~