[robertprice]

Tied with the Umbee for the worlds's worst cichlid actor, is the Sonoroan or Green Guapote Cichlid, Cichlasoma or Nandopsis beani. It has become so rare that it's classification is still in dispute. Found on the Pacific Coat of Northern Mexico in fast moving small rivers (there was once a breeding population in S. California), it is now the rarest, most expensive and most highly prized naturally occuring cichlid by hobbyists and professionals. This big, heavy set fish gets 10 to 16 inches long, and lives in hard, pH 7-7.8, 75 degree water in the wild. they eat crustaceans, insects and smaller fish.

The base color varies, from nearly brown to brown green to yellow to gold in the Rio Tepic. There are darker freckles all over the body behind the operculum, and 6 to 7 faint dark vertical lines there as well. Some males have a prominent nuchal hump. Females are smaller and less colorful, and have pointy faces like female flowerhorns. They are found in association with large rocks, and sleep in rock crevices. Like Umbees, they hate everything, including their mates which they may try to kill if they are not in the mood. An adult can be kept ina 125 gallon tank, but a pair needs twice that much room. They will try to kill any non-specific tank mate. They are monogamous flat substrate breeders, and the few people who have had succuess breeding them do so by raising a group of fry together and try to get a pair out of whoever survives. Even the young ones hate each other.

In captivity they can tolerate water from ph 6-7.8, but prefer about 7.2, and tolerate 72-76 degrees. Their omnivore diet must be very well planned, as they will eat until they vomit and easily get Bloat Disease. Foods rich in vegetable mater help reduce the chances of stomach problems, They like homemade fish food with broccoli, shrimp and beefheart, and can be maintained on pellets, especially those containing algae and spirulina. See Images of Beani cichlid for pictures.