Breeding Oscars can be a hit and miss affair due to the fact that they are virtually impossible to sex until they are ready to spawn. The best way to aim for a breeding pair is to grow on a group of six juveniles. this will give you a good, although not guaranteed, chance of getting a breeding pair. All to often an attempt to breed Oscars fails because the two fish that are in a tank are not a pair. Some people can be intimidated by the rough fighting that sometimes precedes a spawning and will separate them too early preventing them from spawning. If you are lucky enough to get eggs then you may find that the eggs don't hatch because they are often infertile. This may be due to having two females spawning together. You may then find that the Oscars eat the eggs soon after they are laid or the fry soon after they hatch. I have had all these problems but managed to overcome them by being patient with my fish. By reading the pages in this section carefully you should be able to breed your Oscars. However don't expect fry at once it can take a long time. here are some top tips:

• Ensure that your water quality is good with no ammonia or nitrite readings and low nitrate readings.
• Feed your Oscars a good amount of live food for at least a week.
• Do a larger than normal water change with cooler water, this will often trigger them into spawning.
• Try to have at least 4-6 adult Oscars so they can pair up.
• Take all other fish from the tank. It is almost certain that you will not breed Oscars with a Plec in the tank.
• Stay away from the tank once they have spawned.
• If your Oscars eat the eggs then hatch them artificially. If they hatch then at least you know that you have a pair.
• When breeding Oscars remember that you will get hundreds of fry so you must have somewhere to put them once they are growing on.

Breeding Oscars is great fun and very challenging. I have managed to breed discus much easier than i ever found it breeding my Oscars when i first started. However once you have an established pair of Oscars they will keep you entertained with their antics during spawning. Watching a pair of Oscars with fry swimming round them is awesome.

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