Cichlid Profiles - Hypsophrys nicaraguanesis

[robertprice]

The Macaw or Nicaraguan Cichlid is one of the most beautiful large amphilophines, and as of 2007 one of two memmbers of its genus. They have a vey downsloping metallic silver-blue to purple head, an orange belly, a metallic golden dorsal area with luminescent blue green and gold dorsal fin. the males have a prominent red streamer at the dorsal tip. there is a pitch black line down the midbody in jubveniles and females, which changed to a round black midbody spot in males. The pevlic fins are elongated, and the **** fin is usually gold with a blue fringe. The tail is orange with a black ocellus at the caudal peduncle.Males reach 12 inches, females get up to 9. It is native to slow moving Nicaraguan and Costa Rican rivers and lakes, temperature of 75 to 81 degrees, PH 7.4 to 8, and hard water. They are very omnivorous and eat snails, mollusks, plants, insects and detritus primarly.

In captivity they can be kept in a 50 gallon or larger aquarium. They are territorial and do best with dither fish like large barbs and silver dollars, or they may fight. They lay several hundred non-adhesive eggs in an excavated pit or flowerpot. They will chase dfown the eggs if a proper depression is not avaiable. They are the only amphilophines who lay non-adhesive eggs. They are good parents, and eat most any commercial foods in captivity. See photos at "Images of Hypsophrys nicaraguensis.

This species changes gender. The gender of juveniles is to some extent socially determined, and Joe Graffagnino reports a male to female change in a 2 year old adult.