Copper Oscar: Price in India and Care Guide
Published: 2026-10-30 · FishyKart Blog
A copper oscar is a colour form of the oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) with a warm coppery-orange pattern on a dark body. At FishyKart it costs ₹250 for a 1.5-2 inch fish or ₹450 for a 2-3 inch fish. That small price buys a big commitment: the copper oscar grows to 30-35 cm, needs at least a 4 feet tank (280 litres or more) with strong filtration, and lives 10-15 years. Care is identical to every other oscar; only the colour is different.
Photo: FishyKart Copper Oscar product listing
Copper Oscar Price in India
FishyKart prices every oscar colour form the same way: the cost depends on size, not colour.
| Oscar | Small | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Oscar | ₹250 (1.5-2 inch) | ₹450 (2-3 inch) |
| Tiger Oscar | ₹250 (1.5-2 inch) | ₹450 (2-3 inch) |
| Mango Oscar | ₹250 (2 inch) | ₹450 (3-4 inch) |
| Red Albino Oscar | ₹250 | - |
| Tiger Albino Oscar | ₹250 | - |
Prices are taken from FishyKart's own store and can change with stock and offers. The real cost is the tank and filter: plan that budget before buying the fish. For orders and delivery details, see Contact us.
What Makes an Oscar "Copper"
There is no wild copper oscar. Wild Astronotus ocellatus from the Amazon and Orinoco basins has a mottled brown-and-orange pattern and an eye-spot (ocellus, which gives the species its name) at the base of the tail. SeriouslyFish lists several ornamental strains, including albino, tiger, red tiger and Bahia red; "copper" is a trade name used by sellers for a strain whose orange marks are a warmer, coppery tone. Because it is a trade name, two shops may use it for slightly different fish.
The copper colour also changes with age. Juveniles show a duller, patchier version of the pattern, and the coppery tone deepens and evens out over the first couple of years. A 2 inch copper oscar in a shop tank will not look like the adult in photos yet. To compare it with the other colours, see types of oscar fish.
Size, Growth and Tank Size
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 30-35 cm in tanks; up to 350 mm SL (SeriouslyFish) |
| Minimum tank, 1 oscar | 280 litres (75 gallons), a 4 feet tank or larger |
| Recommended lifetime tank | 150 x 60 cm base (5 x 2 feet), about 540 litres (SeriouslyFish) |
| Temperature | 23-27°C ideal; 20-28°C tolerated (SeriouslyFish) |
| pH / hardness | 6.0-7.5 / 5-20 dGH (SeriouslyFish) |
| Lifespan | 10-15 years |
Sources: SeriouslyFish species profile for Astronotus ocellatus (size, tank base, water, distribution, diet, behaviour, ornamental strains, breeding); FishyKart oscar care guide and product listing (minimum tank, lifespan, colour development).
The recommended tank is about twice the minimum, and the gap matters. Oscars grow fast: a baby can reach half its adult size within the first year, so a 2 feet or 3 feet tank that looks roomy for a ₹250 fish is outgrown within months. Buy the final tank first, or at least have it planned. Oscars also eat a lot and produce a lot of waste, so use a canister or large external filter rated well above the tank volume, and change 25-30% of the water every week. The oscar tank setup guide covers filters and decor in detail.
Feeding and Behaviour
SeriouslyFish describes the oscar as a generalised omnivore that eats smaller fish, insects, crustaceans and plant matter, with "meatier foods" preferred. In the tank, feed a quality cichlid pellet sized for the fish as the staple, with earthworms, prawns or shrimp as treats. Avoid live feeder fish: they bring disease and teach the oscar to hunt its tank mates.
Oscars are known for recognising their keeper, begging at the glass and taking food from the hand once settled, which is a big reason people love them. They also dig, move gravel and knock over loose decor, so use sand or smooth gravel, heavy rocks and a secure heater guard.
Tank Mates
SeriouslyFish calls the oscar "not especially aggressive for a cichlid of this size", but any fish small enough to fit in its mouth will be eaten. In an Indian home aquarium, the realistic options are:
- Another oscar of any colour in a 125 gallon (about 470 litre) or larger tank.
- Large, sturdy fish of similar size: severum, silver dollars, common pleco, bichirs.
- Not suitable: guppies, tetras, mollies, shrimp, and aggressive fish such as flowerhorns.
Many keepers simply keep one copper oscar alone, which is the safest and cheapest setup.
View Copper Oscar → Browse Oscars →