Peruvian festivum
Mesonauta mirificus
Also known as Mirificus 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
- Ucayali and upper Amazon, Peru
Overview
The Peruvian festivum is a flag cichlid for a calm tank with tall plants and soft water. Keeping a pair takes a little experience.
Did you know
The Peruvian festivum's species name is a quiet compliment from taxonomy. Mirificus means wonderful or astonishing, an unusual flourish for a describer working to separate several nearly identical flag cichlids.
Caring for the Peruvian festivum
Give a pair of Peruvian festivums at least 66 gal (250 L). Furnish the tank with tall stem plants, driftwood and floating plants that diffuse the light and shade the surface. Add cover it can retreat into when startled. It hangs at an angle among the tall plants and floating cover.
Keep the water soft and slightly acidic with gentle flow, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. It is an omnivore that grazes soft plants and takes flake, pellet and frozen foods. Feed a varied diet with some vegetable content.
The Peruvian festivum is peaceful but somewhat shy, and it pairs off rather than shoaling. Keep a single fish or a bonded pair rather than forcing a crowd. It can be nervous, so it does best with calm tank mates and away from boisterous fish or fin-nippers.
A pair spawns on a leaf or firm surface and guards the young together. Breeding is of moderate difficulty.
Good to know
The Peruvian festivum, Mesonauta mirificus, is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae. Most of the flag cichlids that arrive in shipments from Peru belong to this species.
In the wild
The Peruvian festivum lives in the Ucayali and upper Amazon of Peru. It is found among floating meadows and overhanging vegetation, along slow, soft, tea-tinted water.
Common questions
What size tank does a Peruvian festivum need?
A Peruvian festivum needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Peruvian festivum need?
A Peruvian festivum is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a Peruvian festivum eat?
A Peruvian festivum is an omnivore. It takes flake, pellet and frozen foods and grazes soft plants, so its varied diet needs some vegetable content.
How big does a Peruvian festivum get?
An adult Peruvian festivum reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How does a Peruvian festivum breed?
Peruvian festivums spawn on a leaf or firm surface, and the pair guards the young together. Breeding them is of moderate difficulty.
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)Colombian festivum
Mesonauta egregius
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)