Red fire Oscar with a Black Head

[Vibsee]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

0

If yes, what is your nitrite?

0

If yes, what is your nitrate?

0

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

81-90%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every week

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

I bought a red fire Oscar from this guy who had kept it in a brown muddy-water tank when he was about 6 inches, 2 months back.
He's 8 inches now, living with another red fire who is about 9 inches and has been with me for almost a year.
But ever since I bought him, his head has been black. The one I raised is almost the same color but with a white spotless head.
Why is this guys head so dark (almost black)? Makes him look dirty and unwashed as compared to the other one. He is also pigmented in some areas.

 

[FINWIN]

I bought a red fire Oscar from this guy who had kept it in a brown muddy-water tank when he was about 6 inches, 2 months back.
He's 8 inches now, living with another red fire who is about 9 inches and has been with me for almost a year.
But ever since I bought him, his head has been black. The one I raised is almost the same color but with a white spotless head.
Why is this guys head so dark (almost black)? Makes him look dirty and unwashed as compared to the other one. He is also pigmented in some areas.

Oscars have different genetics and can change as they grow. My red Oscar Brick had a 'black' head as a baby, I called it sooty like he stuck his head in a chimney! He was copper color at the time, then went orange with black spots/broken stripes, then red with no spots, now he's red with black/white dotted scales, black fin edges and a dark head. He looks like a spicy red pepper O, like he's peppered for cooking!

I personally though the sooty head was super cute.

 

[Vibsee]

Hmmm... well people who see both my oscars together say . what's wrong with this guy? Why is he so dirty? I thought it had something to do with stress or some unknown condition.

 

[duanes]

These "for color named oscars" ( yellow, blue, red fire, etc etc) are line bred, man induced variants, and as FINWIN said they will have varying traits.
In any spawn, you will have some more red, some more black, even some that revert back to a natural color.
Unless the breeder has been very careful about culling, and only breeding dominant color morphs, they vary more and more with each generation..
Post a photo if you believe its more complicated than that, its hard to tell without seeing the fish.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

I agree with everyone above. Tho something else that may be troubling is 0 Nitrates in your tank.

 

[Deadeye]

What others have said, nothing wrong with the Oscar other than genetics. He just has some black patches, same way any fish may have imperfections, especially when line bred (look at bettas, how hard it is to find some colors). IMO it is nice to have some contrast between to two fish.

 

[Jexnell]

Oscars colors change alot along the way.

Started with

Ended up with

You can't predict an O's final look based of its smaller appearance

 

[Vibsee]

These "for color named oscars" ( yellow, blue, red fire, etc etc) are line bred, man induced variants, and as FINWIN said they will have varying traits.
In any spawn, you will have some more red, some more black, even some that revert back to a natural color.
Unless the breeder has been very careful about culling, and only breeding dominant color morphs, they vary more and more with each generation..
Post a photo if you believe its more complicated than that, its hard to tell without seeing the fish.

both fish

 

[Rocksor]

Genetics are the reason for the coloration, no need to worry

 

[FINWIN]

Hmmm... well people who see both my oscars together say . what's wrong with this guy? Why is he so dirty? I thought it had something to do with stress or some unknown condition.

In December I will be posting updates on my fish including the timeline of my Oscar, who is close to his 2nd year anniversary. You'll be able to see all his color morph changes.

With mine lighter environment affected his color, making it washed out (in a bathtub he turned bright orange) Surrounded by colorful background and substrate his color goes dark and gets intense. When my Finnex lighting is in early evening mode he almost looks fluorescent.