Xiloa Cichlid (Amphilophus xiloaensis) Care Guide
Amphilophus xiloaensis is a colour-variable Midas-complex cichlid endemic to the crater Lake Xiloá in Nicaragua, where it feeds largely on snails.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Amphilophus xiloaensis was described by Stauffer and McKaye in 2002 as part of the Midas cichlid species complex. It is one of the most colour-variable members of the group, occurring in grey, white, yellow, orange and red forms as well as blotched intermediates, all of which appear naturally in the wild.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Amphilophus
- Scientific name: Amphilophus xiloaensis
- Describers: Stauffer & McKaye, 2002
- Member of the Midas cichlid species complex
Habitat
The species is endemic to Laguna Xiloá, a young crater lake in Nicaragua. According to FishBase it is a benthopelagic freshwater fish typically found at depths of about 2-8 m, occasionally deeper, concentrated on the steep basalt slopes of the crater.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
It is carnivorous, with millstone-like pharyngeal jaws used to crush snail shells. Additional teeth on the first gill arch act as a feeding sieve, allowing it to take finer food particles than some related species. In captivity it accepts a varied diet of meaty and prepared foods.
Compatibility
Outside the breeding season the species is not strongly territorial and schools in large groups in the wild. During breeding, pairs form and defend territories aggressively, so a spacious aquarium and robust tank mates are recommended.
Breeding
It is a substrate spawner with biparental care; peak breeding occurs around November and December. Nests can hold up to about 1,000 eggs, which hatch in roughly three days, with fry becoming free-swimming about a week later.
Amphilophus xiloaensis Breeding Guide
Overview
Amphilophus xiloaensis is endemic to Laguna Xiloa, a Nicaraguan crater lake that originated about 6,500 years ago. It is a member of the Midas cichlid species complex and a biparental substrate-spawner. In the lake it breeds in real colonies among basalt stones, with peak breeding in November and December.
Sexing
The sexes cannot be reliably distinguished by colour and markings, and females may even briefly develop a small brow bump. In all cases, however, males are somewhat larger. The species is highly variable, with grey, white, yellow, orange and even red individuals occurring naturally.
Conditioning
The species favours alkaline, hard water with a light addition of salt, reflecting its crater-lake origin. Conditioning a compatible pair on a varied diet within stable, mature water provides the basis for spawning.
Breeding Setup
- Hard, alkaline water; lake water sits around 29 °C with a maintenance range of about 27-30 °C.
- pH around 7.5-8.0.
- Rockwork (basalt-style stones) providing surfaces and crevices, mimicking the natural colonial spawning grounds.
- A large tank, as the species reaches up to 35 cm.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Pairs spawn among the basalt stones, often in loose colonies. Brood defence shows role differentiation: the male defends the territory against adult conspecifics while the female defends the brood from predators, a behaviour documented in field studies on Lake Xiloa.
Egg & Fry Care
Clutches are large, reaching up to about 1,000 eggs. Eggs hatch after three days, and the young swim free roughly a week later. Both parents continue to guard the free-swimming fry.
Common Challenges
Maintaining the hard, alkaline conditions of the crater lake and managing aggression in a sufficiently large tank are the main hurdles. The recorded breeding type is substrate-spawner, matching the biparental, rock-colony spawning described by the sources used here.