Atromaculatus cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

A large, territorial Chocó cichlid best kept as a single fish or a bonded pair with plenty of floor. Its manners are those of the Central American guapotes even though it lives south of them, so tankmates need size and confidence. Give it sand, heavy wood and clear sight breaks, and expect a spawning pair to claim most of the tank. Feed prepared and frozen meaty foods.

In the wild

Mesoheros atromaculatus lives in the rain-fed rivers of the Chocó on the Pacific side of Colombia and Ecuador, one of the wettest regions on earth, in warm water that stays soft to neutral. Keep it at 24 to 29 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.5, with sand, wood and room.

Good to know

Mesoheros atromaculatus reaches about 25 centimeters. Its genus is the part of the Central American cichlid radiation that crossed into South America, so it sits on the far side of a boundary most of its relatives never passed. It is a substrate spawner with biparental care.

Did you know

Mesoheros is Middle America's family abroad: a CA cichlid line that emigrated to South America and stayed.

Common questions

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