How Much do Oscar Fish Cost?
The average price for an Oscar fish is somewhere around $10-$15. There is a wide range of different Oscar fish out there with different colors. Some of them might be more expensive than others. Not to mention that you can buy established breeding pairs, which cost a lot.
While it is a bigger investment, it is certainly worth it because it is really hard to tell when they want to breed. Oscars reach sexual maturity at the age of about 14 months. However, this doesn’t mean that they want to breed right away.
They might postpone it until they are 2-3 years old so if you don’t want to wait, then you might as well buy a fully compatible pair. In this article, we are going to talk about the price of Oscars in general. You are going to learn what makes them more or less expensive and their availability in the market.
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Are Albino Oscars More Expensive?
There are two types of Oscars that are particularly expensive. One of them is the albino Oscar and the other is the leucistic long-finned one. If you want to get an albino Oscar, then you need to set aside $50 to $100 in your average pet store.
Leucistic long-finned Oscars look absolutely amazing so it is no wonder they cost so much. Since it is so rare, you need to be lucky to run into one in the first place. A long-finned leucistic Oscar can also cost you a couple of hundred dollars.
Where to Buy Rare Oscar Fish?
Of course, there is always the Internet where you can order a lot of different things, including home pets. The problem with this is that no one guarantees that the pet you ordered is actually healthy. It is best to go to the local fish store where you can see them with your own eyes.
The difference is that it’s easier to find things online and you can order right away. If you feel like taking that risk, then by all means go ahead. Your best alternative is still to visit the local fish store and just ask the seller. If you are lucky, he can get you some rare Oscars.
If not right away, your new fish is probably going to be in your aquarium in a couple of weeks. After all, they are dealing with different fish species all the time and they know their sources.
Can You Breed Oscars for Profit?
You can certainly breed Oscar fish for profit. Although they are not for the absolute beginner, you are going to be able to do it relatively easily with some experience in fish keeping. On the other hand, they are very hardy fish so keeping them in a home aquarium is rather forgiving.
If you keep the water parameters ideal and provide high-quality foods, they are going to thrive. The problem with them is that you never know when they are going to breed. It usually happens when they are 2-3 years of age. You can choose the faster option and just buy an already established pair at the fish store.
After all, Oscars are really popular and they also sell them in pairs. Before you start the Oscar fish breeding business, there are a few things to consider. First off, there are many varieties when it comes to Oscars. You need to pick a profitable one that also sells well in your country.
You also need to think about how many fish you want to produce exactly via breeding. If the numbers are on your favor, then breeding them is certainly worth it.
How Much Does It Cost to Keep an Oscar Fish?
If you are a beginner fish keeper, you might not be familiar with all the prices related to keeping an Oscar fish at home. Besides the fish tank and the Oscar fish itself, there are various other things you are going to need to pay for.
We are going to break down all the expenses for you just so you can see how much this hobby actually costs. So, first off, you can get your beautiful Oscar fish for about $10-$15 at the pet store. That fish is going to grow to its full size in about a year, further increasing the expenses and tank size requirement.
For an adult Oscar, a 55-gallon tank is required. If you can buy a 75-gallon one, even better. Depending on which one you buy, you are going to spend $300-$600 on the aquarium. You are also going to need a good canister filter, otherwise, the water will get polluted over time.
A decent filter costs $75-$150. You also need a heater because room temperature is simply not enough. Your Oscar can only thrive if the ideal water temperature for him is kept constant. Fortunately, food is not that expensive. You can get some pretty healthy fish foods for $10-$20 per month.
Other expenses include a water conditioner, medication and vitamins which are optional.
Wrapping Up
We can conclude that the average Oscar fish you can get at almost every pet store doesn’t even cost that much. However, keeping an Oscar at home costs a lot more overall. The most expensive piece of the puzzle is going to be the fish tank that can cost anywhere between $300-$600.
With the help of this article, you can evaluate whether it is really worth it for you to keep an Oscar fish at home. Of course, there are many other beautiful fish species you can keep that don’t have such costly requirements. Also, keep in mind that Oscars can live up to 20 years.
Buying the fish with the tank, heater and filter is basically a 15-20-year investment. At first, it might seem a lot but on the long term, it is really not much. Not to mention that you are going to have a lot of fun while taking care of your precious Oscar.