Spadetail checkerboard cichlid
Dicrossus maculatus
Also known as Spade-tail checkerboard cichlid, Chessboard cichlid, Spadetail checkerboard, Spadetailed Checkerboard Cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F
- 26–30°C
- pH
- 4.5–6.5
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lower Rio Tapajos and Rio Maues of the Brazilian Amazon, in shallow, sluggish blackwater streams over leaf litter.
Overview
Keep a pair or small group in a tank of at least 90 liters at 26 to 30 C and pH 4.5 to 6.5, with soft water and leaf litter. Provide dense planting, wood, and gentle water flow. Feed small live and frozen foods. It is peaceful and best kept only with calm, small tankmates.
In the wild
The spadetail checkerboard cichlid lives in the lower Rio Tapajos and Rio Maues of the Brazilian Amazon. It occupies shallow, sluggish blackwater streams over leaf litter. Wild water is very soft, acidic, and stained with tannins. It needs a mature, stable tank with soft acidic water to thrive.
Good to know
Dicrossus maculatus was described by Steindachner in 1875 and is the type species of its genus. Males grow to about 9 cm and develop a spade-shaped tail, which separates them from the lyretail of the more common Dicrossus filamentosus. A row of dark checkerboard blotches runs along the flank.
Did you know
Breeding is a challenge, since the eggs only develop properly in very soft, acidic water below about pH 5.0.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Spadetail checkerboard cichlid is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Cameroon barb
Enteromius camptacanthus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Kuekenthal's halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Leopard cory
Brochis leopardus
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Clipper barb
Enteromius callipterus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Agassiz's cory
Brochis agassizii
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Spadetail checkerboard cichlid need?
A Spadetail checkerboard cichlid needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Spadetail checkerboard cichlid need?
A Spadetail checkerboard cichlid is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.5.
How big does a Spadetail checkerboard cichlid get?
An adult Spadetail checkerboard cichlid reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Checkerboard cichlid
Dicrossus filamentosus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3 in (7.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Warzel's dwarf cichlid
Dicrossus warzeli
3 in (7.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Cherry-belly jewel cichlid
Rubricatochromis cerasogaster
3.5 in (9 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Conjunctus benitochromis
Benitochromis conjunctus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Eyespot dwarf pike
Wallaciia notophthalmus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)