Chessboard Cichlid
Dicrossus maculatus
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 5–10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 100 litres
- Temperature
- 26–30 °C
Species profile
Checkerboard Cichlid
Dicrossus filamentosus
Common names: Checkerboard Cichlid, Lyretail Checkerboard Cichlid
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 9 cm
Typical adult length 5–9 cm.
Up to 9 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Advanced shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A delicate Rio Negro dwarf cichlid with a checkerboard flank pattern and demanding soft-acidic water requirements.
Appearance and Identification
A slender fish with alternating dark flank blocks, blue iridescence, and long filamentous caudal extensions in adult males.
Adult male caudal filaments help distinguish it from D. maculatus. Females develop red pelvic fins and strong brood colour.
Males are larger with more blue iridescence and elongated lyre-like caudal extensions. Females are smaller and develop red pelvic fins and yellow brood colour.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 160–240 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–125 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 80 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 75 cm
- Minimum group size
- 3
- Recommended group size
- 4
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Use fine sand, abundant leaf litter, branches, plants, dim light, and broad leaves or smooth surfaces for spawning. Keep one male with several females in adequate floor space.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A shy lower-level dwarf cichlid that becomes territorial during courtship and brood care.
A small harem can work in a structured aquarium, with each female controlling a separate area.
Females guard spawning sites and fry. Males display across a wider area but need escape routes from brooding females.
Use tiny peaceful upper-water fish only. Avoid aggressive tank mates, intrusive bottom dwellers, and ornamental shrimp.
Water Parameters
Very soft acidic blackwater is strongly preferred and is usually necessary for dependable egg development.
Parameter caveat
Low-buffer water must be managed carefully. Avoid large chemistry swings and maintain excellent sanitation without stripping the aquarium of all botanicals.
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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, Insectivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Live baby brine shrimpUseful for conditioning adults and feeding juveniles; rinse before use.
- Daphnia, cyclops, or mosquito larvaeSmall moving prey encourages natural feeding behaviour.
- Frozen brine shrimp or mysisOffer thawed portions sized for the fish.
- High-quality cichlid micro-pelletUse as part of a varied diet after the fish accepts prepared food.
A micropredator feeding on tiny crustaceans, worms, insect larvae, and similar items.
Live and frozen foods are often needed. Feed small portions and prevent waste in the warm acidic aquarium.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 28 °C
- Breeding pH
- 5
- Brood or egg count
- Commonly 50 to 120 eggs.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Maternal care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpPrimary food for free-swimming fry; feed small rinsed portions several times daily.
- MicrowormsUseful supplementary food for small fry near the substrate.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly and remove uneaten material.
A maternal open substrate spawner. The female places eggs on a leaf or smooth surface and guards eggs, larvae, and fry.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Brazil, Colombia, South America, Venezuela
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Floodplain, Freshwater Stream
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Planted Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Dicrossus
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Demon Eartheater
Satanoperca jurupari
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 18–25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 500 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Dwarf Flag Cichlid
Laetacara curviceps
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5–8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Electric Blue Ram Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. "Electric Blue"
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C