Edit Biotodoma cupido

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Name

Scientific name

Biotodoma cupido

Described by

Authority Heckel, Year 1840, Bracketed

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Cupid Cichlid

Photograph credits

All 18 credited

Summary

The cupid cichlid, Biotodoma cupido, is a geophagine cichlid from much of the Amazon basin, north to the Essequibo in Guyana and south to B…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

100mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 150 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–30°C, pH 5–7

Hardness

1–5dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Peru, Amazon, Essequibo, Guaporé, Madeira, Mamore, Negro, Tocantins

Writing

Etymology

Biotodoma: from the Greek 'βίοτος', meaning 'living', and 'δῶμα', meaning 'house', in allusion to the adults carrying fry in their gills. This behaviour is not…

Distribution

Recorded throughout much of the Amazon basin, with its range extending eastwards from the Ucayali system in Peru as far as the Tocantins drainage which flows i…

Recorded throughout much of the Amazon basin, with its range extending eastwards from the Ucayali system in Peru as far as the Tocantins drainage which flows into the Atlantic alongside the Amazon at its delta. The southern extremity of its range appears to be the Río Mamoré in Bolivia, a tributary of the rio Guaporé, and the northern limit the Essequibo basin, Guyana.

Type locality is 'Rio Negro and Rio Guaporé, Mato Grosso, Brazil', the former located in Amazonas state, northwestern Brazil, and the latter a tributary of the rio Madeira basin in Mato Grosso state much further south.

Certain elements of colour pattern and external morphology differ depending on locality, and the existence of additional species has been suggested for years though to date nothing has been confirmed on an official basis.

Most of the fish in the aquarium trade originate from around the Amazonian city of Santarém in Pará state, eastern Brazil.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Habitat

Given the extent of its natural range this species is likely to be something of a habitat generalist, though torrential conditions are probably avoided. Many o…

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of 150 ∗ 45 cm or more are recommended.

Maintenance

Ideally a soft, sandy substrate should be used since members of this genus are largely benthophagous. Additional décor is largely a case of personal taste, but…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

The diet should contain a variety of high quality, fine-grade prepared foods plus live or frozen chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Tubifex, Artemia, mosquito larv…

Behaviour and compatibility

Unless breeding this species is surprisingly peaceful and will not predate on fishes larger than a few mm in length. Suitable tankmates are therefore too numer…

Sexual dimorphism

Several authors have suggested that the sexes are distinguishable by the pattern of laterally-orientated, iridescent blue markings which extend from beneath th…

Reproduction

This species is a biparental substrate spawner preferring to lay its eggs on rocks which are partially-buried in the substrate. Sexual maturity appears to be r…

Notes

In the aquarium trade this species is also known by the alternative name of 'green-streaked eartheater'. The form from Santarém which is normally traded as B. …

References

5 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References