Why the gluttonous/ravenous reputation for Oscars?

[Reaper13]

That’s feeding fully grown. At about 9-10in I’ll start skipping a day, then around 11-12in I’ll usually be around 4-5 days a week feeding.

At a young age I just watch their behavior & if the aggression declines just ever so slightly then I stop (belly will usually poke out just a tad). If the belly extends a good bit I’ve overfed & I’ll skip a day. Most will eat till they make themselves sick then spend all day in agony on the bottom. Other people will have different opinions, but this has posted the best results over the years.

 

[Reaper13]

4-5 times per week? or did you mean day? if you meant week, would feeding more be harmful so long as its not enough to pollute the tank?

Overfeeding will cause a shorter lifespan. It's just like people if you eat too much you get clogged up. Peas are a natural laxative & are great with fish like O's

 

[cainsthepain]

My oscar seems to eat alot but it looks like most comes out of hos gills anyway


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[The_Don]

Well in my experience when I put a handful of food in my tank, the oscar will try to fit as much as possible into his mouth at once. He "eats" it all but much of it comes out of his gills. However, when I put in 2-3 pellets at a time until hes "full" he does not make nearly as big of a mess. Usually I stop feeding him once he seems less interested in the food / starts to release the food through his gills.