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Oscar

Astronotus ocellatus

Fish · family Cichlidae · order Cichliformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Typical length
13 in[3]

The Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a fish in the cichlid family, and it is not native to the United States[4][5]. Its global conservation rank is G5, which means Secure, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Oscar a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. In USFWS data the Oscar is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. In Florida, Hawaii and Rhode Island its state rank is SNA, because it is introduced there and not native[7][8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
USGS nonindigenous aquatic species[5] Listed as exotic in parts of the US

Where Oscar lives

USGS lists the Oscar as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States[5]. NatureServe records it as introduced, not native, in Florida, Hawaii and Rhode Island[8]. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Utah and South Carolina[9]. These counts follow how much people look and report, not how many fish live there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: introduced, state rank SNARICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: introduced, state rank SNAHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (3 states)
StateRankMeaning
FloridaSNANot Applicable
HawaiiSNANot Applicable
Rhode IslandSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records the Oscar in creeks, low gradient waters, deep water and shallow water[10]. In Florida it lives in canals and ponds with mud or sand on the bottom[11]. Eggs are laid on the bottom surface[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size

The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 33 cm (13 in)[3]. In Florida the Oscar spawns from June to October, when the water is 28 to 33 C[12]. The parents incubate the eggs and guard the young[12].

Trait Value
Typical length[3] 33 cm (13 in)

When to look for it

In Florida the Oscar spawns from June to October[12]. GBIF observation records in the United States are highest in March, April and December[13]. Records are lowest from June to September[13]. These records show when people look and report, not how many fish there are[13].

January: 80 recordsJanFebruary: 64 recordsFebMarch: 125 recordsMarApril: 127 recordsAprMay: 98 recordsMayJune: 34 recordsJunJuly: 20 recordsJulAugust: 19 recordsAugSeptember: 22 recordsSepOctober: 101 recordsOctNovember: 85 recordsNovDecember: 127 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[13].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January80
February64
March125
April127
May98
June34
July20
August19
September22
October101
November85
December127

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Oscar as present in 2 park units[14]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Utah, South Carolina[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Oscar endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Oscar live in the United States?
NatureServe lists it as introduced, not native, in Florida, Hawaii and Rhode Island[8]. GBIF records are most numerous in Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Utah and South Carolina[9].
How big is an Oscar?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 33 cm (13 in)[3].
What kind of water does the Oscar live in?
NatureServe records creeks, low gradient waters, deep water and shallow water[10]. In Florida it lives in canals and ponds with mud or sand bottoms[11].
When does the Oscar spawn?
In Florida it spawns from June to October[12].

Facts and sources

  1. Oscar is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Oscar: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 33 cm (13 in). NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. USGS lists Oscar as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States (exotic). USGS NAS
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Oscar (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe lists Oscar as introduced (not native) in: Florida, Hawaii, Rhode Island. NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Oscar: Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Utah, South Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Oscar: Creek, Low gradient, Deep water, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Oscar. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Oscar. NatureServe Explorer
  13. GBIF observation records of Oscar in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  14. NPSpecies park lists recording Oscar as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.