Flag Cichlid
Mesonauta festivus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 300 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Species profile
False Green Terror
Andinoacara rivulatus
Common names: False Green Terror, Green Terror, Gold Saum
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 30 cm
Typical adult length 20–30 cm.
Up to 30 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Intermediate shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A large, assertive Andean cichlid with bright blue-green spotting and orange or white fin edging.
Appearance and Identification
A robust cichlid covered in blue-green spots and lines, often with orange or white edging on the dorsal and caudal fins. Mature males may develop a forehead hump.
The common name is confused with Andinoacara stalsbergi. A. rivulatus usually has orange or pale fin edging and a different scale and caudal pattern.
Males are larger, longer-finned, and may develop a nuchal hump. Females are smaller with shorter fins and become intensely patterned during spawning.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 1,600–2,000 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 400–600 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 400 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 150 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 2
- Activity level
- High
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Provide a large tank with powerful filtration, sand or smooth gravel, large wood and rocks, secure décor, and open territory. A pair requires considerably more room than one fish.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Territorial and assertive, with strong feeding responses and increased aggression during pairing and spawning.
Usually kept singly or as a proven compatible pair. Randomly combining adults is risky.
A breeding pair can claim most of the aquarium and attack fish near the spawning site.
Only combine with robust similarly sized fish in a very large tank. Avoid small fish, shrimp, timid species, and other territorial cichlids in cramped layouts.
Water Parameters
It tolerates a broad range when water is clean and stable. High oxygen and strong filtration are important for adults.
Parameter caveat
Pairs can injure each other or tank mates suddenly. Use barriers and a spare tank, and never rely on a small juvenile community as a permanent plan.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Omnivore, Predator
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Quality sinking cichlid pelletUse a staple pellet appropriate to the fish size and mouth shape.
- Chopped shrimp, mussel, or earthwormOffer clean unseasoned portions as rotating protein foods.
- Blanched leafy greens or peasUseful for omnivorous and plant-eating species; remove leftovers promptly.
- Frozen krill or mysisFeed in moderation to add variety and support colour.
An omnivorous predator taking invertebrates, smaller fish, plant matter, and prepared foods.
Use balanced pellets as the staple and avoid mammal meat or live feeder fish.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding temperature
- 26 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7
- Brood or egg count
- Several hundred eggs, sometimes more than 500.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpSuitable after yolk absorption for most cichlid fry.
- Crushed high-quality cichlid pelletIntroduce gradually as fry grow.
- Finely chopped frozen cyclopsUseful supplementary food for larger fry.
A biparental substrate spawner. Eggs are laid on a flat rock or cleaned surface and both parents guard eggs, larvae, and fry.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Ecuador, Peru, South America
- Natural habitat
- Fast Stream, Freshwater River, Rocky Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Large Freshwater Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Andinoacara
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Freshwater Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 200 litres
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C
German Blue Ram Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. "German Blue"
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Gold Ram Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. "Gold"
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C