Flag cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Also known as Festivum cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Flag cichlid (Mesonauta festivus) — Citron · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 5.9 in (15 cm)
Minimum tank: 37 gal (140 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Common
Origin: South America
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

For a cichlid this is a calm, somewhat shy fish that does well in groups or pairs. It sits in the middle of the tank and appreciates tall plants and wood to feel secure and break up sight lines. Feed quality pellets, flake, and frozen foods like bloodworm and brine shrimp, with some vegetable matter. Give it around 140 liters or more. It mixes well with peaceful larger tetras and similar gentle tankmates.

In the wild

Flag cichlids come from slow, soft waters across South America, including flooded forest edges and quiet river margins thick with plants and submerged wood. The water is soft and slightly acidic and often shaded. Give them a planted tank with driftwood, tall plants, and some open water, plus gentle flow. Soft water from pH 6 to 7.5 and temperatures in the mid to high 20s C suit them.

Good to know

Mesonauta festivus is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, reaching about 15 cm. It has a tall, laterally compressed body and a dark diagonal band running from the snout through the eye to the top of the tail. It is a substrate spawner that forms pairs and guards its eggs and fry, though it can be tricky to breed in the aquarium. Both parents tend the brood.

Did you know

Flag cichlids often rest at an angle, tilted nose-down among vertical plant stems and roots. The dark diagonal stripe lines up with those stems and breaks the fish's outline, so a nervous flag cichlid will tuck into the plants and all but disappear.