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This 10 inch attractive Panamanian cichlid is seldom seen in captivity. It is light purple or lavender-blue in ground color with either a complete midbody bar, or just some blotches from the dorsal fin toward the tail. There is a large caudal peduncle blotch. It has yellow or orange eyes and a rose colored gill cover. The body above the lateral line is suffused with bright yellow, as are the fins. The fins and body may both be pearly. There are black irregular spots right under the dorsal fin in many specimens.

It has been bred in captivity and needs at least a 70 gallon tank, with hiding rocks and without plants, which it eats. They are farily herbivorous omnivores. They do well at pH 7 to 7.6 and about 80 degrees. They are conspecifically aggressive, but only mildly aggressive toward other similar sized fish. They are good parents. Pictures at "Images of Cichlasosma tuyrense."