Oscar Fish (Astronotus ocellatus)

The Oscar is a large, intelligent cichlid known as much for its personality as its size. Bold patterned and highly interactive, Oscars can form a genuine bond with their keeper — they recognize faces, beg for food, and make their presence known in any room.

In the wild, Oscars inhabit the slow-moving rivers and floodplains of South America, and in the home aquarium they need a large, well-filtered tank with sturdy décor they're free to rearrange. They're available in several color morphs, including Tiger, Red, and Albino, with each fish developing its own distinct markings as it matures.

Oscars suit experienced cichlid keepers as well as hobbyists ready to take on their first large predatory fish. They're long-lived and demanding of space, but the payoff is a fish with real presence and a memory for the person who feeds it.