Parachromis managuensis

The natural range of this species extends southwards down the eastern side of Central America, from the River Ulua in Honduras through Nicaragua to the River Matina in Costa Rica. It's been introduced into most other Central American countries as well as Hawaii, the USA, Philippines and Singapore.

Found inhabiting a variety of biotopes, from heavily-silted, murky lakes with soft substrates to clearer streams and ponds. Apparently it shows a preference for warmer waters which are often hypoxic (starved of oxygen).

48"L x 18"H x 15"W (120cm x 45cm x 37.5cm) - 212 litres. MUCH larger for 12"+

Decorate the aquarium with natural territory boundaries and plenty of rocks, wood and caves as hiding places for the female.

Temperature: 24 – 30 °C75 – 86 °F

pH: 6 to 8

Hardness: 6 to 18°dH

Almost exclusively carnivorous in nature, preying on smaller fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Big cichlid syndrome. Will see smaller fish as food. Can be aggressive when breeding and are always territorial. Male can be aggressive towards any female Managuense if the female doesn't want to breed when the male does. Adequate cover in the aquarium can help disperse this aggression.

Females are smaller and more rounded, males have pointed dorsal and anal fins and generally more colour.

As with a lot of cichlids, Parachromis Managuense will clean a surface chosen for spawning. Eggs will be laid onto this surface and when the fry hatch they will be moved to spawning pits which the parents will have dug into the substrate.

Managuense are excellent parents and will look after their young for upto 6 weeks. By this point, the fry should be between 15 mm0.6 in and 25 mm1.0 in. After that, parents may start to spawn again. At this point the fry need to be removed or they will be killed by the parents whilst they guard the new batch.

Sometimes the parents will look after both batches, but if this is the case the older fry will generally eat the new batch. Raising the fry without parental care is a lot more difficult, and is generally not recommended.

Parachromis Managuense are your typical north/central American large predatory cichlid. They are extremely attractive, but a large aquarium is required.

They are not difficult to look after, as long as filtration is up to standard. Choose tankmates carefully - if you are hoping to breed Managuense, house a breeding pair or grow 6 juveniles up until a pair is formed.

One of the biggest problems with breeding Managuense is the fact that a single spawn from 12" parents can produce 3000 fry. What would you do with 3000 potentially 2 foot predatory cichlids? Bear this in mind before giving Managuense the chance to breed.