Oscar Fish

cichlid · aquarium pet · tropical

Tropical South American native. Oscar fish come from the warm rivers and streams of South America, where local people have caught and sold them as food for many years. Today they're found in aquariums all over Europe and the United States instead.

Many beautiful names. This fish goes by lots of nicknames, including Tiger Oscar, Velvet Cichlid, and Marble Cichlid, usually because of the cool patterns and colors on its body. The same fish might be called different names in different places.

Spread around the world. People have brought oscar fish to India, China, Australia, and many other countries, making them one of the most traveled aquarium fish species. What started as a local food fish became a worldwide pet.

Cichlid family member. Oscars belong to a large family of fish called cichlids, which are known for being smart, colorful, and interesting to watch. Many other popular aquarium fish are cichlids too.