Results for “cichlid”

Borelli's dwarf cichlid, Apistogramma borellii, is from southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. Also known as the umbrella or yellow dwarf cichlid, it occurs in creeks and tributaries of the rio Paraguay, lower rio Paraná and Uruguay systems. Captive-raised fish are the recommended choice for the community aquarium, while wild examples are best kept alone or with small dither fishes.

The midas cichlid, Amphilophus citrinellus, is a large cichlid from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, found in lakes, ponds and slow stretches of rivers. It is often confused with the red devil, A. labiatus, but has a bigger nuchal hump and a more thick-set build. One of the most belligerent cichlids, it needs careful handling with any tankmate, including its own kind. Intentional hybridisation with other species has given rise to the parrot cichlid and the flowerhorn.

The red devil cichlid, Amphilophus labiatus, is a large cichlid endemic to Lakes Nicaragua and Managua in Nicaragua, living near submerged rocks. It is often confused with the midas cichlid, A. citrinellus, and the two have been hybridised in the hobby so much that a purebred fish of either can be hard to find. Wild fish are mostly grey, and the colour forms in the trade come from breeding those with orange or red patterning. It is one of the most aggressive cichlids kept.

The pearlscale cichlid, Herichthys carpintis, is a large cichlid from northern Mexico, found in lagoons around the mouth of the Panuco drainage. It is often mislabelled as the Texas or green Texas cichlid, though the Texas cichlid is a different species, H. cyanoguttatus. Not difficult to keep or breed, it digs, can be territorial and sometimes downright aggressive, and males may turn on females when spawning.

The silver cichlid, Maskaheros argenteus, is a large Central American cichlid that appears to be endemic to the River Usumacinta drainage in Mexico. Also called the white cichlid, it is aggressive, especially towards conspecifics. It may be kept with other tough Central American cichlids if enough rock and bogwood forms territories for all, but there is no guarantee of success.

The Oaxaca cichlid, Vieja zonata, is a large cichlid that appears to be endemic to the River Tehuantepec drainage in Mexico. Hardy and easy to keep, though moderately aggressive, it is only occasionally available through specialist cichlid dealers. It can be kept with similarly sized cichlids in a large enough aquarium, and will eat any fish small enough to fit into its mouth.

The African butterfly cichlid, Anomalochromis thomasi, is a dwarf cichlid from forest streams in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. Juveniles can look a little dull on sale, but it is peaceful, relatively undemanding and easily bred, and one of the best choices for the newcomer to dwarf cichlids. The genus is monotypic, although several colour forms are available from time to time and some may prove to be distinct species.

The Bolivia cichlid, Cichlasoma boliviense, is a cichlid from the Rio Mamoré, Rio Guaporé and Madre de Dios drainages of Bolivia and Peru. It lives in shallow pools and along slow-moving shorelines and grows to around 11 cm. Not commonly seen in the hobby, it is less aggressive than many Central American cichlids but suits only a community of medium to large fish, and it rearranges the decor to suit itself.

The blood-red jewel cichlid, Hemichromis lifalili, is a cichlid endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Often confused with H. bimaculatus, it has two black spots on the flanks against that species' three, and its round midlateral marking sits above the lateral line, unlike the oval one of the red form of H. guttatus. It becomes very aggressive when spawning but is fairly placid otherwise, and is not a particularly good species for the community tank or for newcomers to cichlids.

The rainbow cichlid, Herotilapia multispinosa, is a Central American cichlid from eastern Honduras and throughout Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Peaceful by Central American standards, it suits fishkeepers who do not want the more aggressive species, and can live with tetras, barbs and smaller peaceful cichlids. In nature it inhabits turbid lakes, swamps and marshes with soft, muddy substrates, and in the aquarium it typically reaches around 10 cm.

The Nicaragua cichlid, Hypsophrys nicaraguensis, is a Central American cichlid from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, found in lakes and slow-moving rivers. Also known as the spilotum or moga, it exists in several colour forms depending on collection locality, and has been hybridised with the convict cichlid, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus. Relatively peaceful for its size but territorial, it is best kept as a mated pair and spawns in caves.

The dwarf flag cichlid, Laetacara curviceps, is a small cichlid from the lower Amazon basin in Brazil. An established aquarium favourite, it has also been called 'flag acara', 'smiling acara', 'sheepshead acara' and 'blunt-headed cichlid'. Populations differ in the degree of red and blue on the body and fins. It favours clear, slow-flowing water over leaf litter and is a biparental substrate-spawner.

The striped pike cichlid, Lugubria strigata, is a large pike cichlid from the lower Amazon basin in Brazil, away from the main river itself. One of the more commonly available pike cichlids in the UK, it is often bought by fishkeepers unaware that it grows to around 40 cm. It can be aggressive, especially towards conspecifics, and is reported to be susceptible to hole in the head disease.

The flag cichlid, Mesonauta festivus, is a cichlid recorded from Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. It lives in well planted, slower-moving waters. Flag cichlids are found in most aquatic stores, but the fish usually sold under the name is M. insignis. It is peaceful, but becomes more aggressive when breeding.

The white-spotted pike cichlid, Saxatilia albopunctata, is a pike cichlid from Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Its range runs from the Demerara to the Approuague, in slow-moving forest streams, tributaries and pools over sandy substrates, dimly lit by overhanging vegetation. An aggressive species, it can be kept with other large cichlids or on its own, and it grows to about 20 cm, though usually no more than 15 cm in aquaria.

The Proteus pike cichlid, Saxatilia proteus, is one of the smaller pike cichlids, known from Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. It is occasionally offered for sale and more than makes up for its size in aggression, especially towards conspecifics. It will eat any fish small enough to be considered food, so suits a tank of larger cichlids or a species-only set-up.

The saddle cichlid, Aequidens tetramerus, is a cichlid found across much of northern South America, from the Amazon and Orinoco basins to the Guianas. The type species of its genus, it occurs in several colour forms, and fish from Ecuador and Peru are sought after for the red or orange colouration on the lower head and belly. As currently recognised it is likely to represent a group of related fishes, some of which may be described as distinct species.

The calvus cichlid, Altolamprologus calvus, is a laterally compressed predatory cichlid endemic to the rocky shores and islands of Lake Tanganyika. Its shape lets it enter crevices in the rockwork to prey on eggs, fry and small fish, and its thick scales have serrated edges. Several colour forms from different parts of the lake are regularly available and should be kept apart so they do not hybridise. Wild fish are sensitive to changes in water chemistry.

The compressed cichlid, Altolamprologus compressiceps, is a substrate-spawning cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it lives among rocky rubble. Its colour pattern varies with locality, and many forms are traded under their own names, such as 'Burundi red fin' and 'black cheek'. Populations should be kept apart and labelled with their collection locality to avoid hybridisation. A smaller, shell-dwelling fish traded as A. sp. compressiceps 'shell' appears to be an undescribed species.

The convict cichlid, Amatitlania nigrofasciata, is a Central American cichlid native from Guatemala to Panama. One of the most ubiquitous fish in the hobby, it is hardy and very easily bred, but aggressive and territorial, becomes violent when breeding and is best kept in a species tank. Pink, long-finned and marbled forms exist, and it has been introduced to several countries including the USA and Australia.