Freshwater Fish
Red Tiger Oscar.
The red tiger oscar is a big, smart, dog-like cichlid that recognizes its owner and rearranges the tank to taste — a fast-growing 12-inch fish that needs a 75-gallon-plus tank with heavy filtration. It makes a mess and pays you back in personality; endlessly entertaining for the dedicated keeper.
Prices change with size and with each shipment. Call to check today's price.
Call (814) 456-9445We keep this species. What's in our tanks changes with every delivery, so call (814) 456-9445 before you drive in. We never ship live animals.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
We never ship fish, coral, or invertebrates — every animal here is one you meet in person. Each one is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it goes out into the display tanks. This is a species we keep, and what is swimming on any given day changes with the deliveries, so please call (814) 456-9445 before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Care level
- Wants stable water and a routine you already keep.
- Temperament
- Will chase or nip if it feels crowded.
- Adult size
- 12"
- Min tank size
- 55–75 gal by age
- Diet
- Eats meat and greens both.
- Scientific name
- Astronotus ocellatus
Grows into its tank
Sub-adult (initial housing)55 galAdult (10–12 in)75 galGood tank mates
The red tiger oscar is a large, messy predatory cichlid that will eat anything small enough to fit in its mouth, so it is not a community fish. House it on its own or with other big, tough fish that can hold their own alongside it.
Good to know
The oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a cichlid from the Amazon basin in South America and is known for recognizing and reacting to the person who feeds it.
What is in the tanks and each animal’s temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. What is in the tanks and each animal’s temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for advice on pairing.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Red Spot Silver Dollar
Large schooling fish that grows to 5–6 inches — too big to be eaten by an adult Oscar — and peaceful enough not to provoke a large cichlid; a good fit for Oscar tanks.
Jack Dempsey
Comparable adult size (8–10 in) and semi-aggressive temperament that lets it hold its own against an Oscar in a large tank (100+ gallons); a common Oscar pairing when adequate space and hiding spots are provided.
Common Pleco (Plecostomus)
Armored bottom-dweller that can exceed 18 inches at adulthood, occupies a different tank zone, and is widely documented as a classic Oscar companion; slime-coat rasping risk is low with fast-moving Oscars (documented mainly against slow flat fish like discus and goldfish).
Green Severum
Large South American cichlid sharing the Oscar's water parameters (soft, slightly acidic) and reaching 8–10 inches; Oscars and Severums coexist successfully in 75+ gallon setups with the Oscar typically asserting dominance without causing serious harm.
- B
Bichir
Large armored bottom-dweller occupying a completely different tank zone; Oscars are large enough not to be prey, and Bichirs' tough exterior and nocturnal bottom-hugging behavior minimize conflict. Oscars are compatible; size-match at introduction is essential (small Bichir juveniles can be eaten).
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.