Leopard Oscars?

misa · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

Hello. I am setting up a 70gal tank and preparing to purchase my very
first oscar. Today I was at a local fish store which had the usual
varieties like red, pink, tiger, and albino. They also had "leopard
oscars." These fish were
a light golden/beige with black fins and tails. Their gold bodies
were covered with black spots. The pattern was perfect leopard spots.
It was so perfect in fact that I asked the salesman if they had been
painted or dyed. He said absolutely not, but could not give me any
more information than that. I went home and looked leopard oscars up
online but could not
find any photos or information. Can someone tell me if these fish are
just another color variation or are they a totally man-made thing like
the poor blueberry oscars? I realize that "man-made" is a relative
statement, given that color variations can be produced by breeders.
In this sense I am talking about "man-made" as it refers to painting,
injecting, dying, or otherwise traumatizing the fish after hatching to
acheive a certain look.

Thanks for any information!
Misa

Archived from group: alt>aquaria>oscars

Mark Stone · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 100

lummy@uymail.com (misa) wrote in message news:...
> Hello. I am setting up a 70gal tank and preparing to purchase my very
> first oscar. Today I was at a local fish store which had the usual
> varieties like red, pink, tiger, and albino. They also had "leopard
> oscars." These fish were
> a light golden/beige with black fins and tails. Their gold bodies
> were covered with black spots. The pattern was perfect leopard spots.
> It was so perfect in fact that I asked the salesman if they had been
> painted or dyed. He said absolutely not, but could not give me any
> more information than that. I went home and looked leopard oscars up
> online but could not
> find any photos or information. Can someone tell me if these fish are
> just another color variation or are they a totally man-made thing like
> the poor blueberry oscars? I realize that "man-made" is a relative
> statement, given that color variations can be produced by breeders.
> In this sense I am talking about "man-made" as it refers to painting,
> injecting, dying, or otherwise traumatizing the fish after hatching to
> acheive a certain look.
>
> Thanks for any information!
> Misa

Hi -- Never heard of that variety! From your description, though, it's
possible that you're describing a simple variation of a Tiger.

--Mark

Mark Stone tractorlegs at msn dot kom
OSCAR Lovers! http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000/oscar.html
The ".Edu" meens i are smart.

misa · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the response! I checked with the aquarium center in
randallstown maryland to see if they had ever heard of, or stocked
these guys. they said that they do have them from time to time. they
call them "jaguar oscars" instead of leopard. it looks like you are
correct and they are just a genetic variant. they are very very
pretty! I think I will pick one up next week. I'm curious to see how
the pattern changes with growth.

thanks again,
misa

> Hi -- Never heard of that variety! From your description, though, it's
> possible that you're describing a simple variation of a Tiger.
>
> --Mark
>
>
> Mark Stone tractorlegs at msn dot kom
> OSCAR Lovers! http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000/oscar.html
> The ".Edu" meens i are smart.