All fish / Cichlidae

Nicaragua Cichlid

Hypsophrys nicaraguensis

Also known as nicaraguan cichlid, spilotum, macaw cichlid, moga, cichlasoma nicaraguense, copadichromis nicaraguensis, nicaragua cichild, ปลานิการากัว, ニカラグエンセ, 尼加拉瓜慈鲷, 金钱豹

A stocky cichlid with a steep, rounded head and a small downturned mouth. Adults show gold, turquoise and orange tones, and males carry a dark lateral blotch. It is kept for its striking colours and because it is milder than most Central American cichlids of similar size.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

23 to 29 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Keep as a pair or a single fish alongside other robust Central American cichlids

Diet

Omnivore: quality cichlid pellets, vegetable matter, spirulina flakes, shrimp, bloodworm and insect larvae

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Atlantic slope of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, including Lakes Nicaragua and Managua and the San Juan River basin

Breeding

A substrate spawner that digs pits or uses caves, laying non-adhesive eggs, which is unusual among cichlids. Both parents guard the eggs and fry closely. A settled pair breeds readily in a large aquarium.

Good to know

Males reach around 25 cm, and breeding pairs become territorial and dig heavily, so secure plants and decor. Females are smaller and plainer, and juveniles are dull silver, so young fish are easily confused with other cichlids.