The Lemon Oscar is a stunning color variety of the extremely popular Oscar cichlid. Vibrant lemon yellow coloring over an opaque, cream-white body makes for a brilliant appearance. The eye-catching Lemon Oscar is so visually dissimilar to the normally dark colored Tiger Oscar that it instantly becomes the center of attention and a topic of conversation.

The Lemon Oscar requires a large, well-filtered aquarium of at least 70 gallons with a deep sand bottom and a few large rocks. It will dig up plants so any that are in the tank should be potted with the root surfaces covered with rocks. Using floating plants is a good alternative. The Lemon Oscar is not as territorial as most other cichlids when full grown but will consume anything they can fit into their mouth. Though this hardy and easy-to-care-for cichlid is generally mild-mannered in nature, the Lemon Oscar is best kept in a species tanks or with similar-size tank mates.

A large tank should be used for breeding, if possible, as large as 100 gallons. The Lemon Oscar will spawn in soft or hard water as long as it is clean and clear and has a temperature between 79-86°F. The Lemon Oscar will pair to form a nuclear family. The female will then lay between 1,000-2,000 eggs on rocks that have been carefully cleaned. The eggs are opaque at first, turning transparent in 24 hours. The brood will be carefully guarded and cared for and the fry will be kept in pits and may even be covered. When they are free-swimming, the fry should be fed Cyclops. Sometimes the fry will cling to their parents. The male and female are difficult to differentiate but during spawning the genital papilla of the female becomes noticeable.

The Lemon Oscar is a predatory carnivore with a hearty appetite. Oscars will eat a variety of meaty foods, including small fish and earthworms, Cichlid pellets, larger flake food, ocean plankton, Bloodworms, Mysis Shrimp and Tubifex Worms.

Approximate Purchase Size: 2-1/4″ to 2-3/4″