Family – Cichlosoma (Theraps)
Scientific Name - nicaraguense … syn=(C.balteatum … C.spilotum)
Common Name – nic’s…nickies
Locality - Both the Pacific and Atlantic slopes of Nicaragua and Costa Rica … found in the lakes and slow moving rivers
pH – 7.0-8.2
Temperature (in F) - 74-86F (80-84F for breeding)
Max size (in inches) - 4-8"
Minimum tank size - at least 30g
Sociability - Depends on fish ... Some are quite friendly, while others are really aggressive
Breeding - Egglayer, spawn in sandy depressions... Fish will form strong pair bonds ... They breed often … one of the few cichlids to sometimes practice ‘creching’ or community brood care where several females may combine broods and assist each other in guarding the expanded fry cloud ..... in NON-spawning fish there is a dark lateral stripe - this stripe consolidates into a center SPOT on fish that are in spawning mode
Temperament - Same as sociability
Comments – Beautiful multi-hue fish … males may develop a nunchal hump with age
Personal Experience - I purchased 5 juveniles and grew them out in a 40Long tank … from these I have had one pair form at the 3-4 inch mark and they have been spawning regularly since
Additional photos:
Non-spawning coloration
another shot of Non-spawning coloration
photos by BABailey
