Checkerboard cichlid
Dicrossus filamentosus
FishFreshwater
- Care level
- Demanding
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Recommended tank
- 80 L
- Maximum size
- 7 cm
- Temperature
- 26–29 °C
- pH
- 5–6.5
- Diet
- Carnivore
Care at a glance
The checkerboard cichlid from the Rio Negro region is a slender dwarf cichlid with a double row of dark squares along its flank, like a chessboard. Males develop a beautiful lyre tail with red and white tips.
It comes from extremely soft, acidic blackwater, and with this species that is no detail: in hard water it stays colourless and breeding comes to nothing. Give it a warm, mature tank with leaf litter, subdued light and small live or frozen foods, and add no boisterous tankmates.
Good to know
Related species
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.