T-bar cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

A pair does well in a 150 liter tank at 24 to 28 C and pH 6.5 to 7.5. Provide caves and sturdy decor for territory. Feed pellets, frozen foods, and some vegetable matter. It is a convict relative but much more peaceful, which makes it a good first Central American cichlid to breed.

In the wild

The T-bar cichlid comes from Pacific-slope rivers and streams of Costa Rica. It lives over gravel and small rocks in water with moderate current. It is a cave spawner that appreciates flat stones and hollows. A tank with rocks, wood, and a few caves suits it well.

Good to know

Cryptoheros sajica was described by Bussing in 1974 and is sometimes filed under Amatitlania or Archocentrus. It is named for the T-bar, a vertical black bar that crosses the midlateral stripe near the tail to form a T shape. Males reach about 12 cm, and females stay smaller and flush gold when spawning.

Did you know

Unlike its convict cousins it stays fairly calm outside of breeding, so it is easier to house in a mixed setup.

Related species

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  Dwarf pike cichlid

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• 

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• 

  Slender buffalohead cichlid

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• 

  Honduran red point cichlid

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• 

  Ocellated kribensis

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