Calobre cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

The Calobre cichlid is a large, robust river cichlid from eastern Panama. It is not a group fish, so keep a single specimen or a bonded pair with its own territory. It spends its time in the lower half of the tank and is reasonably calm for a big cichlid but firm around a nest, so choose sturdy tankmates and give plenty of space and cover. Feed a varied, carnivore-leaning diet of quality pellets, frozen mysis and krill, earthworms, and larger frozen foods. A tank of around 400 liters or more, with driftwood, rock, and open floor, suits a pair.

In the wild

Darienheros calobrensis lives in rain-forest rivers of eastern Panama, toward the Darien on the Pacific slope, in warm, gently flowing water. Recreate that with a sand or fine gravel floor, driftwood and rock for cover and territory, and steady filtration. The water runs neutral to slightly hard, so hold 24 to 29 C and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2.

Good to know

Darienheros calobrensis belongs to the cichlid family and reaches about 25 centimeters. It is the only species in its genus, which was created for it when the old catch-all genus Cichlasoma was broken up. It is a substrate spawner of medium difficulty, a pair laying eggs on a cleaned surface and guarding the young together, and adults are speckled over a bronze base.

Did you know

This cichlid lives around the Darien, the roadless stretch of jungle where the Pan-American Highway breaks off and never reconnects between Panama and Colombia. Its remote home is a big reason the fish is rarely seen in the hobby.

Common questions

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