Astronotus

Astronotus is a genus of South American fish from the family Cichlidae. There are two species in the genus (listed below), both of which are found in the Amazon Basin, while one of two also is found in the Paraná and Paraguay rivers. Astronotus species grow to 35 cm in size, and are monomorphic. They are opportunistic omnivores and consume a range of smaller fish, crustaceans, mollusks and other invertebrates in the wild. One species, the oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), is popular in the aquarium trade. A. ocellatus forms monogamous pairs which spawn in the open, typically on a flattened stone or in a shallow depression. The juvenile colouration is different from that of the adult and may aid in camouflage of the fry. In contrast, Astronotus crassipinnis is rarely exported and is not seen often in the aquarium trade. In some classifications the Astronotus is the sole genus in the monogeneric tribe Astronoti of the subfamily Cichlinae. There are currently two recognized species in this genus: