If you're trying to get a pair, the best way is to buy 4-6 juveniles, let a pair form, and trade the others back to the store. Here are a couple of article excerpts regarding sexing oscars:
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Oscars are what we call monomorphic, meaning that male and female look the same. This means that you can't go to a shop and choose a male and a female like you can with other species of fish. Contrary to a few people's belief, you cannot tell the sex of an Oscar by the shape of its fins, the length of its body, or even it is colouring. You will normally only know the sex of your Oscars when they start laying eggs.
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Only when Oscars start laying eggs will you know for sure that you have got a male and a female. The females egg tube is overall in the shape, not unlike the pointed end of an egg. The males sexual organ is pointed and looks rather like a thorn.
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Unfortunately, determining the gender of an Oscar based upon finnage, colouration, markings, behaviour or size are not very reliable.
The only reliable method of determining the gender of an Oscar, is by netting them out of the tank, and holding them still while examining their genital area with a bright light available. It does take some practice to tell the difference, but the male's spawning tube points back towards the tail, and is located just in front of the opening of the anus. The female on the other hand, has a spawning tube that is less pointed, and points straight down. The female's genital area gives the impression of two openings including the anus.
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