Nicaragua cichlid

The Nicaragua cichlid is a large, strikingly coloured Central American cichlid native to the great lakes and rivers of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Adults show a golden to turquoise body with a dark lateral stripe and iridescent scaling, males growing larger with a pronounced nuchal hump. Despite its size it is comparatively peaceable for a big cichlid, though it becomes territorial and defensive when spawning, so house it in a spacious tank with robust tankmates such as other medium Central American cichlids. It is an unusually strong plant grazer and burrowing sand-sifter, so expect rearranged decor; use a sandy substrate, rockwork and driftwood. Provide hard, alkaline, well-filtered water with good current. Feed an omnivorous diet richer in vegetable matter than most cichlids: quality cichlid pellets, spirulina, blanched vegetables plus occasional frozen foods. It is a devoted, cave-and-pit spawning parent.