Colombian festivum
Mesonauta egregius
Also known as Egregius flag cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal
- 250 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Orinoco llanos, Colombia and Venezuela
Overview
The Colombian festivum is a tall, flag-striped cichlid for a calm community tank. It is best for a keeper who has kept fish before.
Did you know
The Colombian festivum's species name, egregius, means standing out from the flock, or distinguished. It is a slightly ironic label, because the various flag cichlids look so alike. Even experts often need to know where a fish was caught to tell the species apart.
Caring for the Colombian festivum
Give the Colombian festivum a tank of at least 66 gal (250 L), planted thickly with some tall plants and floating cover. Add driftwood and leaf litter, since it feels safest with cover overhead. With places to shelter, it will settle and color up.
Keep the water soft, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Dim, tannin-tinted water suits it and helps show off the dark flag stripe across its body. Feed an omnivore's diet of flake and pellet, with frozen foods and some greens.
Keep a single fish or a bonded pair. It swims in the middle of the tank and is peaceful with fish its own size. That is why festivums are a classic companion for angelfish. It will eat very small tank mates, though, so choose companions with some care.
Like other festivums, it is an open substrate spawner. A pair lays its eggs on a leaf or slanted surface and guards the eggs and fry together. Breeding takes some experience.
Good to know
The Colombian festivum, Mesonauta egregius, is a flag cichlid in the family Cichlidae. It was recognized as a distinct western species when the genus was revised in the early 1990s.
In the wild
The Colombian festivum comes from the slow, weedy margins and floodplains of the Orinoco llanos in Colombia and Venezuela. The water there is warm and soft to neutral.
Common questions
What size tank does a Colombian festivum need?
A Colombian festivum needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Colombian festivum need?
A Colombian festivum is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a Colombian festivum eat?
A Colombian festivum eats an omnivore's diet of flake and pellet, with frozen foods and some greens. It will also eat very small tank mates.
How big does a Colombian festivum get?
An adult Colombian festivum reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How does a Colombian festivum breed?
A Colombian festivum is an open substrate spawner. A pair lays its eggs on a leaf or slanted surface and guards the eggs and fry together. Breeding takes some experience.
Related species
4.7 in (12 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Acora festivum
Mesonauta acora
4.7 in (12 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Peruvian festivum
Mesonauta mirificus
4.7 in (12 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)32 gal (120 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Guyana festivum
Mesonauta guyanae
4.3 in (11 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)37 gal (140 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Flag cichlid
Mesonauta festivus
5.9 in (15 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)34 gal (130 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Banded acara
Bujurquina vittata
4.7 in (12 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Blockhead cichlid
Steatocranus casuarius
4.7 in (12 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)