Amount to feed oscars

[peter212693]

Hi there,

My oscar is about 7-8" and just appears hungry all the time. Im feeding him on Hikari gold large pellets and Fluval bug bites daily with some from frozen bloodworms or krill once a week. I know these guys will beg for food 24/7 but he sits and watches me then as soon as I move shoots to the top of the tank for food. I feed him once a day around 6 hikari and 6 bug bits pellets. Is this enough or is he generally hungry still? I have read a couple of places say depending on filtration just feed till they are disinterested but I think i would be stood there for hours if this was the case.

Tank is a 75g with a 20g sump and I change ~90% of the water each week (down to fin level) and nirates are usually around 20ppm by this time so water quality is ok.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

at that size you can do two feedings a day or one heavy feeding ever other day as for how much I tend to feed mine until I see a slight bulge in their tummy
mine are surprisingly good at self regulation when it comes to food they will stop eating when they are full and will turn to biting hand and fingers

 

[tlindsey]

I personally would keep feeding schedule like it is maybe just feed 8 pellets.

 

[Damascus]

Keep it consistent. I usually do a heavy feeding in the morning before I leave for work, and that gives him time to digest and sit before a water change when I get home.

 

[jonclark96]

I tend to moderate my feeding quite a bit. After seeing lots of presentations from folks way more experienced in the hobby than me, I only feed 4-5 times a week. I am sure that many fish die prematurely from the combination of overfeeding and the resulting poor water quality that comes from the extra waste. IMO, sometimes less is more.

 

[tarheel96]

You're performing weekly fin-level water changes so the water quality will be fine even if you're overfeeding a little. Regarding how much food the oscar needs .. he's still growing and I think your schedule is fine for now. When he reaches one year I would decrease that amount and, a two years old, I would feed only 3 times per week.

 

[peter212693]

Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[Mayank0491]

I suggest you feed then slightly more (quantity) but make sure to just feed them 4-5 times a week. I have followed this routine for my oscars and they have happily lived for over 5-6 years.

 

[LBDave]

I feed mine once or twice a day. Eating is their favorite hobby. A little hikari sticks. Sometimes some freeze dried black worms with vita chem. They love black worm and beef heart sticks. A couple days a week I feed some frozen peas. Sometimes they get fd minnows. Each day is different. Once a week 85% water change and no feeding on that day.

 

[FINWIN]

My schedule changed as my Oscar grew. Went something like this:

2-4 inches 5-6 times a day, small meals.
5-8 inches 3 times a day
9-11 inches 2 times a day
12 inches to now (??) once or twice a day

I wanted to make sure he got plenty during the highest growth curve.