Mesonauta insignis
Last revised 2026Edit this page
On this page11 sections
Quick factsEdit
Difficulty4 of 8 measures
- Space
- large tank
- Water
- flexible
- Temp
- needs a steady temperature
- Diet
- unknown
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Social
- unknown
- Compatibility
- unknown
Other demands
Each of these can raise the rating on its own, whatever the measures above say.
- Hardiness
- unknown
Mesonauta insignis is a cichlid from the Orinoco and Negro drainages in Brazil and Venezuela. It looks very similar to M. festivus, and there is some debate that it is the fish sold in aquatic stores as the flag cichlid. Both species are probably sold under that name, depending on where the fish were caught and exported from. A peaceful cichlid, it becomes more aggressive when breeding.
Distribution
EditSouth America: Brazil and Venezuela: Orinoco an dNegro drainages
Habitat
Write a noteEditWell planted rivers
Aquarium size
Write a noteEdit120 ∗ 38 ∗ 30 cm48 ∗ 15 ∗ 12 in - ~137 litres~36 US gal
Maintenance
Write a noteEditWell planted tank with moderate water flow. Bogwood and branches can be used for decor. Sandy subtrate is preferred. Lighting should not be too strong.
Water conditions
EditTemperature: 26 – 30 °C79 – 86 °F
pH: is found in a broad range of conditions in the wild. In captivity a pH of around 6.5 is ideal.
Hardness: Up to 20°H
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Diet
Write a noteEditOmnivorous in nature. Will eat most dried foods, such as cichlid pellets. Supplement this with bloodworm, brineshrimp and other live or frozen foods. Vegetable matter such as algae wafers, spirulina or blanched greens can also be offered.
Behaviour and compatibility
Write a noteEditSexual dimorphism
Write a noteEditReproduction
Write a noteEditBreeding takes place a flat stone or similar area. Once the breeding area is prepared, eggs will be deposited by the female and then fertilised by the male. In excess of 200 eggs may be laid. Both fish guard the eggs and when the fry hatch two to three days later, they are transferred to a pit where the parents keep them until they become free-swimming. This is usually 3 - 4 days after hatching. Both fish assume parental duties but can be easily spooked often leading to them eating the fry. It is advisable that the breeding tank be placed in a quiet location and distrubed as little as possible.
Fry can be fed on newly-hatched brineshrimp and powdered fry foods until large enough to take bigger foods.
Notes
EditThere is some debate that this species is actually the fish that finds its way into aquatic stores under the name of the Flag cichlid (normally attributed to m. festivus). The two fish look very similar and, in reality, it is likely that both species are sold under the same name - depending on the area where the fish were originally caught and exported from.
Species images · 1
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