Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Outside of the breeding season, they are incredibly peaceful and make excellent community fish. When guarding eggs or fry, they become fiercely protective of their chosen territory. This localized aggression is natural and rarely results in serious injury to tank mates if sufficient space is provided.

Diet

Omnivore

They are primarily carnivorous micro-predators but will graze on some plant material. High-quality sinking pellets or granules should form the staple of their daily diet. Regular offerings of live or frozen bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp will bring out their striking red breeding colors.

Sex ratio

Pair

They are best kept as a single male-female pair unless the aquarium is exceptionally large. In spacious setups, a small group can be kept to allow natural pair formation. Once a pair bonds, they may display mild aggression toward other conspecifics.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Offering food twice a day in small portions is ideal for adult specimens. This feeding schedule mimics their natural foraging behavior and prevents excessive waste accumulation. Care must be taken to ensure slower bottom-feeders also get their share of the food.

Bioload

This species has a moderate bioload, consistent with other dwarf cichlids of similar size. Their biological output is manageable provided the aquarium is equipped with a properly sized filter. Regular maintenance and gravel vacuuming are essential to process the waste they generate.

Flow

Stagnant

Native to sluggish streams and swamps, they strongly prefer a gentle water flow. Extremely powerful filtration outputs can cause them ongoing stress and inhibit natural behaviors. A spray bar or sponge filter provides the perfect environment for these calm swimmers.

Reproduction

Oviparous

They are open substrate spawners that form strong monogamous pairs during the breeding season. The pair will meticulously clean a flat rock or broad leaf before depositing their eggs. Both male and female share the duties of fanning the eggs and protecting the fry from intruders.

Compatibility & tankmates

They are highly suitable for peaceful community aquariums and rarely show unprovoked aggression. Excellent tank mates include peaceful characins, dwarf loricariids, and small schooling fish. Avoid housing them with large, aggressive cichlids that could bully or harm them.

Tank level

Middle/Bottom

These cichlids spend the majority of their time in the lower and middle regions of the aquarium. They appreciate a tank heavily decorated with driftwood, leaf litter, and aquatic plants. They will actively explore the substrate in search of edible morsels.