Question for the lemon oscar owners out there

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TAT2DRAGON

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Apr 30, 2005
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Hey guys, first of all happy new year. i have a question regarding lemon oscars. I just set up another 180 gallon (6x2x2) and i have decided to put 4 oscars in it and grow them out. i have already acquired a pair of really nice albino chili reds about 3 inches in size. What i am having difficulty in finding are some lemon oscars and i have a few questions regarding them. The few i have seen for sale in that size range (3 inch or so) all seem to be very pale in color and not exactly what i had in mind. Is it that when they are small the color hasn't developed yet? Are they a fish that the color intensifies as they mature? I value your guys opinion and knowledge and would appreciate some input on this to help me be able to source some quality ones. Thanks!!
P.S. If anyone knows where some good ones can be found to purchase i would really appreciate you letting me know as well.
 
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TAT2DRAGON said:
Hey guys, first of all happy new year. i have a question regarding lemon oscars. I just set up another 180 gallon (6x2x2) and i have decided to put 4 oscars in it and grow them out. i have already acquired a pair of really nice albino chili reds about 3 inches in size. What i am having difficulty in finding are some lemon oscars and i have a few questions regarding them. The few i have seen for sale in that size range (3 inch or so) all seem to be very pale in color and not exactly what i had in mind. Is it that when they are small the color hasn't developed yet? Are they a fish that the color intensifies as they mature? I value your guys opinion and knowledge and would appreciate some input on this to help me be able to source some quality ones. Thanks!!
P.S. If anyone knows where some good ones can be found to purchase i would really appreciate you letting me know as well.
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Happy New Year to you as well.This may help until other members chime in.https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/gold-lemon-oscars.724419/
 
tlindsey said:
Happy New Year to you as well.This may help until other members chime in.https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/gold-lemon-oscars.724419/
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Thanks for the rapid reply, yes i did read that thread and was already confident about them being a true color variant as compared to a hormone or feed induced coloration. Just trying to get an idea how they look color wise from baby to adult which will help me find a quality fish. I see that you are in Ohio, you guys have some great LFS up there. Down here in South Florida the availability of quality fish is heinous to say the least. Unless you are into saltwater or reef.
 
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TAT2DRAGON said:
Thanks for the rapid reply, yes i did read that thread and was already confident about them being a true color variant as compared to a hormone or feed induced coloration. Just trying to get an idea how they look color wise from baby to adult which will help me find a quality fish. I see that you are in Ohio, you guys have some great LFS up there. Down here in South Florida the availability of quality fish is heinous to say the least. Unless you are into saltwater or reef.
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Oh I got you hopefully someone will chime in with their analysis. Yes fortunate to have decent Cichlid breeders owning store's to sell to the public.
 
No small juvenile SA cichlid should be intensely colored, unless it's one of the electric blue fish which turn blue at 3 - 4 weeks of age.

If you see neon colored red or yellow oscars at 2" they have usually been color-fed with something like Carophyll Pink or Yellow, commonly used to make things like discus or flowerhorn to color up at a small size to make them more attractive for sale.

I would expect oscars to start out pale and develop stronger color naturally with age.
 
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ryansmith83 said:
No small juvenile SA cichlid should be intensely colored, unless it's one of the electric blue fish which turn blue at 3 - 4 weeks of age.

If you see neon colored red or yellow oscars at 2" they have usually been color-fed with something like Carophyll Pink or Yellow, commonly used to make things like discus or flowerhorn to color up at a small size to make them more attractive for sale.

I would expect oscars to start out pale and develop stronger color naturally with age.
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Makes perfect sense!! Thanks Ryan. The obvious answer staring me right in the face and i didn't think of it. That is what is great about this board, so many knowledgeable people and always willing to help one another.
Now if i can just find some decent quality ones i can finally get this tank going. Thanks again guys!!
 
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