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View Full Version : Cichlid Profiles - Mayan Cichlid


robertprice
June 14th, 2013, 04:38 PM
Parapetenia or Cichlasoma urophthalmus is among the most common Central American species, being found all over the Yucatan and down to Nicaragua. It's proper genus is subject to change. It is of special interest to aquaculturusts as a food fish, as it gets 11 inches long. Also of interest to parasitologists as it carries many parasites, particularly helminth worms. It is found in virtually every type of environment within its range and it varies in appearance. There have been 11 subspecies described, but not more than a half dozen of them seem valid. The fish is characterized by 6-8 vertical body bars which can be indistinct or distinct, and a large dark spot on the caudal peduncle surrounded by a blue ocellus. The base color granges from green-brown to yellow to copper. The unpiared fins are often copper colored as well.

It is an omnivore, but eats a lot of smaller fish and shrimp and has a deep mouth for swallowing large prey. It can be kept in a 55 gallon aquarium, 70 for a pair. They should be fed vegetable rich pellets as well as fish and shrimp pieces.They should have hiding rocks, large pebble substrate and bog-oak or driftwood and a few sturdy plants.They aren't particular about temperature or pH. The females are a bit smaller and than the males. They are substrate breeders that need a flat rock, breed from March to October and have relatively small cluthces of eggs. They are good parents. They are philopatric and seldom leave their home territory and are very aggressive within it, but on the whole not as mean as their relatives, the Festae and Managuense.

They are now an invasive species breeding in the Florida Everglades. See "Images of Mayan Cichlid" for pictures.