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Hehe, this is one for the group that I've been neglecting a little; the cichlids! I admit that cichlids aren't my forte, but just the same I can't leave them out.

RFotW #8 -- Astronotus orbicularis -- Bumblebee Oscar



This week's fish is one I've never seen in my fish store. What's so rare about an Oscar, you might ask? Well, these are no ordinary Oscars... Well, actually, that's up in the air. Axelrod believes that these Oscars are different because of a different natural biotope (of which I found no data on) and a different juvenile phase (also something I found limited information on). However, there are still many people that have not separated this type of Oscar from the main species, so thus this actually isn't a valid species name to them. As a result, you'll find the species name kinda spelled in a bunch of ways because of the lack of validity.

I dunno, it looks kinda cool, doesn't it? That stripe pattern isn't one you see all too often. The care is basically the same as your normal Astronotus ocellatus. Here you have a cichlid that gets over a foot long, is messy, and is territorial. Remember a large tank and powerful filtration is best for these fish; a 75 gallon is best as a minimum. Though Oscars are known for being big, tough, and aggressive, kept in a large tank they'll thrive and be more peaceful to its tankmates.

Of course, tankmate shouldn't be bite-size, but the mistake many Oscar keepers make is believing these fish are strictly piscivorous and feed their Oscar feeders all the time. In actuality the Oscar is quite the omnivore, and should be fed as such with meats and plant matter.

Price? You were probably beginning to think you'd never be able to afford any of these fish. You can get one of these buggers for a price of $35-$45.

Links:

[link=http://www.tangledupincichlids.com/]http://www.tangledupincichlids.com/" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]

Past RFOTW:
1. [link=Polynemus paradiseus -- Paradise threadfin]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/46807.html" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
2. [link=Anableps anableps -- Four-Eyed Fish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/47270.html" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
3. [link=Hypancistrus zebra -- Zebra Plec]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/47753.html?200409261201" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
4. [link=Potamotrygon sp. -- Pearl Ray]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/47753.html?200409261201" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
5. [link=Merodontotus Tigrinus -- Tigrinus Catfish, Zebra Shovelnose]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/48196.html?200410031445" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
6. [link=Rhinopias aphanes -- Merlet's Scorpionfish, Lacy Scorpionfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/48511.html?200410101249" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
7. [link=Tetraodon pustulatus]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/48859.html?200410171215" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link][/font]

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Aw, he's a cutie. OTOH, I can just imagine the "I've got a cooler oscar species than you" snideness if it is declared a different species once and for all.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

i'm sure we have a pair of these at our lfs.. there pretty kool!! great article