Hi, I am Marcus Reed — the person behind Oscar Fish Lover, and I have been keeping oscar fish for over 15 years. What started as a single 55-gallon tank with my first tiger oscar in 2011 has grown into a lifelong passion that now spans multiple tanks, hundreds of successful breeding cycles, and this website where I share everything I have learned along the way.
My Story with Oscar Fish
I bought my first oscar — a 3-inch tiger oscar from a local pet store — without knowing anything about what I was getting into. Within six months, that fish was 10 inches, had outgrown the 55-gallon tank, and had eaten every tank mate I tried to keep with it. I made every beginner mistake in the book: undersized tank, feeder goldfish, inconsistent water changes, the wrong filter. My first oscar taught me more through my failures than any guide could have.
That experience is exactly why I started Oscar Fish Lover. I wanted to create the resource I wish I had when I was starting out — practical, honest, experience-based guides written by someone who has actually kept these fish for years, not generic pet care articles written by people who have never owned an oscar.
My Fishkeeping Experience
Over 15 years of oscar keeping, I have maintained tanks ranging from 75 to 300 gallons and kept every major oscar variety: tiger oscars, red oscars, albino oscars, lutino oscars, lemon oscars, and veil tail oscars. I have also kept and bred other South American cichlids including severums, Jack Dempseys, green terrors, and plecos — giving me firsthand experience with oscar tank mate compatibility that goes beyond theory.
Breeding Experience
I have successfully bred oscar fish over 40 times across multiple varieties. My breeding setups include dedicated 125-gallon breeding tanks with flat slate spawning surfaces, DIY brine shrimp hatcheries for fry feeding, and grow-out systems for raising juveniles. I have raised thousands of oscar fry from egg to sellable size, and the breeding guides on this site reflect that hands-on experience — including the failures and the lessons they taught me.
Tank Setups and Equipment Testing
I have built and maintained over 20 different tank setups over the years, testing virtually every type of equipment marketed to oscar keepers. I have used canister filters from Fluval, Eheim, and Sunsun, hang-on-back filters from Marineland and AquaClear, and custom sump systems. I have tested titanium heaters, glass heaters, and inline heaters. I have tried every substrate from bare-bottom to pool filter sand to planted Fluval Stratum. The equipment recommendations on this site are based on what actually works in my tanks — not manufacturer claims or affiliate incentives.
Disease Treatment Experience
I have diagnosed and treated every common oscar health issue — Hole in the Head Disease, ich, fin rot, bacterial pitting, popeye, bloat, and swim bladder disorder. My treatment guides include specific medication dosages, timelines, and recovery expectations based on cases I have personally managed. I have also performed the difficult task of humane euthanasia when treatment was not possible, and I write about it honestly because it is part of responsible fishkeeping.
My Education and Background
I hold a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Florida, where I developed a strong foundation in aquatic ecology, water chemistry, and wildlife biology. My academic background informs the science-based approach I take to fishkeeping — I do not just tell you what works, I explain why it works, grounded in biology and chemistry rather than aquarium forum folklore.
I am also a certified Aquarium Science Specialist through the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) and have completed advanced coursework in fish health management through the University of Florida IFAS Extension program — the same institution that produces much of the peer-reviewed research I cite in my health and disease guides.
Beyond Oscar Fish
When I am not maintaining my oscar tanks or writing guides, I enjoy hiking with my dogs, tinkering with DIY aquarium projects (my latest is a custom-built 240-gallon plywood tank), and volunteering with local aquarium societies. I am an active member of the American Cichlid Association and regularly attend regional fish shows and swap meets where I buy, sell, and trade oscar fish with other enthusiasts.
I also keep a small planted nano tank with shrimp and a betta on my desk — proof that fishkeeping does not always have to involve 12-inch predators. The betta fish section of this site reflects that quieter side of the hobby.
My Promise to You
Every article on Oscar Fish Lover is based on real experience with real fish. I do not write about equipment I have not used, diseases I have not treated, or fish I have not kept. When I do not know something, I say so — and I point you to sources that do know. I test my own advice in my own tanks before publishing it here.
Oscar fish are not easy pets. They are big, messy, demanding, and they live for over a decade. But they are also intelligent, interactive, and genuinely rewarding to keep when you do it right. My goal with this site is to help you do it right from the start — so your oscar gets the life it deserves, and you get the experience that makes this hobby worth the effort.
Contact Me
Have a question about your oscar? Want to share your own experience? I read every email and do my best to respond within 48 hours. You can reach me at [email protected] or through the contact form on this site.
Thanks for being part of the Oscar Fish Lover community. Your fish are lucky to have a keeper who cares enough to research — and that is exactly the kind of person I write for.
— Marcus Reed, Founder of Oscar Fish Lover