Spadetail checkerboard cichlid
Dicrossus maculatus
Also known as Spade-tail checkerboard cichlid, Chessboard cichlid, Spadetail checkerboard
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
- Origin
- Lower Rio Tapajos and Rio Maues of the Brazilian Amazon, in shallow, sluggish blackwater streams over leaf litter.
- Family
- Cichlidae
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.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Aquatic Arts Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with an arrive-alive guarantee
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Cichlids · Advanced fish · Community fish · Bottom dwellers
Keeping Spadetail checkerboard cichlid?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Checkerboard Cichlid
Dicrossus filamentosus3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Giant kribensis
Pelvicachromis sacrimontis3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Ocellated kribensis
Pelvicachromis subocellatus3.9 in (10 cm)21 gal (80 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Golden dwarf cichlid
Nannacara anomala3.1 in (8 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Hongsloi dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma hongsloi3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–84°F (23–29°C)