It is an Oscar Cichlid. It's an exotic from South America that fights great and has got beautiful coloring. These are fishes that have been introduced to south Florida by pet owners that release them when finding out how big and aggressive they get. They are now breeding in many lakes and ponds here. This guy was 12 inches long.
![[Image: IMG_2059.jpg]](http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb248/mig177_album/IMG_2059.jpg)
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Wow, he is beautiful, good job! But because they aren't from Florida are they causing a problem?
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They aren't causing much of a problem, since the Largemouth Bass here keep them in check. But when they get as big as the one I caught, the only way to keep them in check is by keeping some I catch. They are good to eat so it's a good deal.
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can those fish have a gray body an jus red on top fin/spikes an red anlong edge of tail
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I just bought a 14 gallon tank, and I wanted to get some of those, but the lady was like, "Uh..they get to be about 15" or more.." and I was like "Well that sucks!!!" The Oscars that I wanter were pure black and had red dots! Just the opposite of yours.
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Those are excellent to eat.
Check out the Panfish recipe thread on the Recipe Forum. You can use an of those recipes on the Cichlids too.
They taste just like Blue Gills, Breams, Crappie etc.......[cool]
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