Oscar (fish)

Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a large, relatively peaceful species of cichlid. It has a massive body, and makes a slow, majestic appearance but can be quite devastating to it's surroundings. While not a particularly aggressive cichlid, it will eat anything small enough to fit in its mouth and can quite easily be trained to eat from its owner's hand.

It's color is dark, from brown to olive, with golden bands or blotches. Some specimens are almost entirely golden, with iridiscent red spots on the scales.

It's peaceful demeanor and quite attractive coloring makes it a popular fish with aquarists.

In the wild it lives in rivers in the area from Venezuela and along the east coast of South America down to Paraguay. Maximum size is well in excess of 25 cm (10").