All fish / Cichlidae

Chessboard Cichlid

Dicrossus filamentosus

Also known as checkerboard cichlid, chessboard cichlid, lyretail checkerboard cichlid, filament checkerboard cichlid, dicrossus filamentosa, crenicara filamentosa, ディクロッサス・フィラメントーサス, 棋盘短鲷, 七彩棋盘

A slender dwarf cichlid with two rows of dark squares along a pale body, giving the chessboard look, and males develop red-edged fins and a long lyre-shaped tail. Keepers value it for its delicate colours and interesting harem behaviour in planted blackwater tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

25 to 29 °C

pH

4.5 to 6.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, or a small harem group

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp and cyclops, plus quality micro pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Rio Negro and Orinoco basins (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela)

Breeding

Females lay eggs on leaves or flat surfaces and guard the eggs and fry alone. Spawning needs very soft, acidic water, and eggs often fail to develop in harder water, so success takes some effort.

Good to know

Needs very soft, acidic and clean water and is sensitive to nitrate build-up; keep with calm tankmates only. Often confused with the related Dicrossus maculatus, which lacks the lyre tail.