T-Bar Cichlid (Sajica)
Amatitlania sajica
The T-Bar Cichlid (Cryptoheros sajica) is a small and gorgeous Central American cichlid closely related to the much more infamous Convict, but fortunately equipped with a distinctly more manageable temperament. It takes its name from the distinct dark vertical band in the center of the body which, crossing with the horizontal lateral line, forms a perfect letter "T". Males exhibit breathtaking purple and metallic blue reflections with a marked bright blue eye, while the smaller females sport golden yellow fins. Barely reaching 10-12 cm (4-5 inches), it is a very robust cichlid perfect for those who want the bursting character of Central American fish in a medium-sized tank.
Température de l’eau
24 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
7 - 8
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
12 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 100 L
Groupe minimal
>= 2
GH
10 - 20 dGH
KH
5 - 10 dKH
TDS
200 - 400 ppm
Conductivité
313 - 625 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Southern Costa Rica (Rio Terraba). Frequents shaded streams and small rivers with moderate currents, on whose bottom rocks, clay and woody debris abound.
Taxonomy and Morphology: T-bar Cichlid (Cryptoheros sajica). Sometimes placed in the genus Amatitlania. Takes its common name ("T-bar") from the large vertical black band that intersects in a T shape with the dark longitudinal line.
Social Behavior: Proud and territorial Cichlid, forms lasting and monogamous pairs. Although less ruthless than the Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata), it demands respect for its space, especially during reproduction.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Purplish or pinkish-gray base coloration, with magnetic sapphire blue eyes. Males develop extended dorsal and anal fins with burgundy/red reflections and a conspicuous nuchal hump. Females have vibrant yellow fins.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Adult pair in minimum 100 cm (40 inches). Decorate with large smooth rocks stacked to form wide caves, bogwood and fine sand substrate (they dig formidable chasms around the den).
Diet and Feeding: Robust omnivore. Basic granular feed for cichlids, vegetable flakes and supplements of mysis, shrimp meat and bloodworms. They will also graze any tender algae from the rocks.
Water Quality: Hard and alkaline waters (pH 7.5) are its natural environment. Excellent oxygenation and powerful mechanical filtration to make up for the constant suspension of sand during their excavations.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Cohabits with large livebearers (giant Swordtails), Astyanax and other calm Central American Cichlids, if space abounds. Small fish (Neons) will be hunted. Corydoras would be massacred if they approached the den.
Aquarium Breeding: Extremely easy. After a turbulent courtship, they lay 300-400 pink eggs in crevices. The cloud of fry will be escorted by the parents in a spectacular and fierce way around the tank.
Risks and Diseases: The only problems derive from trauma: females who are not ready risk being killed by the male in tanks without sufficiently narrow hiding places to take refuge.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Southern Costa Rica (Rio Terraba). Frequents shaded streams and small rivers with moderate currents, on whose bottom rocks, clay and woody debris abound.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAmérique centrale et Caraïbes
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- They are lively, intelligent, and possess a classic territorial cichlid temperament. While not as hyper-aggressive as some larger Central American cichlids, they demand respect and space. Their parenting behavior is fascinating to watch, but aquarists must be prepared for the aggression they display when protecting their young. They are a rewarding species for those who understand their territorial needs.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- They are unfussy omnivores that will readily accept almost any food offered. A high-quality cichlid pellet should form the staple of their diet to ensure complete nutrition. This should be varied with frozen or live foods like bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp, as well as vegetable matter. A varied diet is essential for bringing out the beautiful blue and yellow hues in their fins.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-10 years
- Taille adulte
- 12 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Pair
- Keeping them in a bonded male and female pair is the most successful method. A pair will claim a territory and defend it together. Keeping multiple males or several unbonded individuals in a standard-sized tank will lead to severe aggression and fighting. If starting with juveniles, let a pair form naturally and rehome the rest.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- They should be fed once or twice daily with portions they can consume in a couple of minutes. They have hearty appetites and will often act hungry, so resisting the urge to overfeed is important. Overfeeding leads directly to water quality issues and potential health problems. Fasting them once a week is a good practice.
- Charge biologique
- Medium
- The T-bar Cichlid has a moderate bioload. Like many Central American cichlids, they are robust eaters and produce a fair amount of waste. Strong, efficient filtration is highly recommended to manage their biological output. Consistent weekly water changes are necessary to prevent the buildup of nitrates and ensure their long-term health.
- Courant
- Moderate
- They prefer moderate water movement that provides good oxygenation without creating stressful, swirling currents. A standard filter suitable for the tank size will create adequate flow. They appreciate calmer areas in the tank, particularly around their chosen caves or breeding sites. Surface agitation is important for maintaining high dissolved oxygen levels.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are prolific cave spawners and excellent parents. A bonded pair will select and intensely clean a cave or crevice before the female lays her eggs. Both parents fiercely defend the breeding site, the eggs, and the resulting fry from any intruders. The fry are easy to raise and can eat crushed flakes or baby brine shrimp soon after becoming free-swimming.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Territorial
- They are moderately aggressive and highly territorial, especially when breeding. They can be kept in community setups with similarly sized, robust fish like larger tetras, barbs, or fast-swimming catfish. However, they will violently chase away any fish that enters their breeding territory. They should not be kept with very small, peaceful fish or overly aggressive, larger cichlids.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- They spend the majority of their time in the lower and middle sections of the aquarium. They love to investigate the substrate and claim specific caves or rocky structures as their territory. They will occasionally swim to the upper levels to feed. A tank decorated with plenty of rocks, driftwood, and secure caves is ideal.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 2,3 ± 0,17 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.502
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.02692, b = 3.02
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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