Rhytisma cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a rarely imported Central American cichlid, kept as a single fish or a bonded pair that claims a bottom territory, most noticeably when spawning. It is fairly peaceful for its size but territorial at breeding time, so give calm, sturdy tankmates and enough cover for the pair to settle. It feeds low down, picking aquatic insects and sifting detritus, so offer sinking foods, frozen bloodworm, and a varied everyday diet. It reaches about 16 centimeters and likes flowing, well-oxygenated water, so allow around 300 liters with pebbles, wood, and current.

In the wild

It lives in the Sixaola drainage on the border of Costa Rica and Panama, keeping to moderate to fast rivers where the bottom is strewn with pebbles, wood, and drifted leaves. Recreate that with a pebble and sand base, driftwood, and strong flow with high oxygen. Keep the water warm at about 24 to 29 C and neutral to slightly alkaline, roughly pH 7 to 8.2. It stresses easily and shows it by throwing dark bars across the body, so keep conditions clean and steady.

Good to know

Cribroheros rhytisma is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae, reaching about 16 centimeters. Its species name, rhytisma, is Greek for a patch, after the dark blotch on its midflank. It was described in 1983 and belongs to a group of sieve-feeding heroes named for the way they strain food from the bottom. It is a substrate spawner of moderate difficulty, a bonded pair tending eggs and fry together.

Did you know

Its whole scientific name amounts to a single mark: rhytisma means a patch, given for the one dark blotch on its side, so the fish is in effect formally named after a spot.

Common questions

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