Species Profiles
2402 articles- Tomocichla sieboldii Care GuideTomocichla sieboldii, now placed in Talamancaheros, is a rheophilic cichlid from Pacific-slope rivers of Costa Rica and Panama.
- Tomocichla tuba Care GuideTomocichla tuba is a rheophilic Central American cichlid from fast-flowing Atlantic-slope rivers of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
- Theraps coeruleus Care GuideTheraps coeruleus, now placed in Rheoheros, is a current-loving Mexican cichlid from the upper Tulija River in the Usumacinta drainage.
- Theraps wesseli Care GuideTheraps wesseli, now placed in Chortiheros, is a rheophilic Honduran cichlid from fast-flowing Caribbean-slope rivers.
- Bay Snook (Petenia splendida) Care GuidePetenia splendida, the bay snook, is a large piscivorous cichlid with a highly protrusible mouth, from Atlantic-slope waters of Mexico, Guat
- Nicaragua Cichlid Care GuideHypsophrys nicaraguensis, the Nicaragua cichlid, is a colorful, comparatively peaceful cichlid from Atlantic-slope waters of Nicaragua and C
- Three-Spot Cichlid Care GuideCichlasoma trimaculatum, the three-spot cichlid, is a large predatory cichlid from Pacific-slope rivers of Mexico and Central America.
- Mayan Cichlid Care GuideCichlasoma urophthalmus, the Mayan cichlid, is a hardy euryhaline cichlid from Atlantic-slope waters of Mexico to Nicaragua.
- Salvin's Cichlid Care GuideCichlasoma salvini, Salvin's cichlid, is a colorful Central American cichlid from Atlantic-slope rivers of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
- Nandopsis haitiensis Care GuideNandopsis haitiensis, the Haitian cichlid or black nasty, is a large aggressive cichlid endemic to Hispaniola.
- Nandopsis tetracanthus Care GuideNandopsis tetracanthus, the Cuban cichlid, is a predatory cichlid from Cuba inhabiting fast rivers and lakes, reaching about 20 cm.
- Parachromis motaguensis Care GuideParachromis motaguensis is a large predatory cichlid from the Motagua basin of Guatemala and Honduras, reaching about 30 cm.
- Yellow Jacket Cichlid (Parachromis friedrichsthalii) Care GuideParachromis friedrichsthalii is a predatory Central American cichlid from the Atlantic slope of Honduras and Guatemala, known for ambushing
- Wolf Cichlid Care GuideParachromis dovii is a large piscivorous cichlid from Central America that reaches 72 cm and requires a very large tank for an apex predator
- Jaguar Cichlid (Parachromis managuensis) Care GuideParachromis managuensis is a large, highly predatory Central American cichlid requiring a very large tank and careful tankmate selection.
- Tamasopo Cichlid Care GuideHerichthys tamasopoensis is a Mexican cichlid endemic to the Tamasopo River, reaching about 18 cm and living in hard, clear, rocky waters.
- Curve-Bar Cichlid Care GuideHerichthys labridens is a Mexican cichlid of the Panuco basin, reaching up to 25 cm and listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
- Cuatro Cienegas Cichlid Care GuideHerichthys minckleyi is an Endangered cichlid endemic to the Cuatro Cienegas basin in Mexico, notable for distinct tooth morphs adapted to p
- Pearlscale Cichlid Care GuideHerichthys carpintis is a Mexican cichlid with pearl-blue scale spotting, native to the Panuco and Soto la Marina drainages, aggressive and
- Yellow Convict Care GuideCryptoheros nanoluteus is a dwarf Panamanian cichlid, one of the smallest Central American cichlids, related to the convicts.
- Blue-Eyed Cichlid Care GuideCryptoheros spilurus is a Central American cichlid of the Atlantic slope from Belize to Nicaragua, related to the convict cichlid but smalle
- T-Bar Cichlid Care GuideCryptoheros sajica is a Central American dwarf cichlid from the Pacific slope of Costa Rica, named for a T-shaped dark mark on its flank.
- Cutter's Cichlid Care GuideCryptoheros cutteri is a small Central American cichlid from Honduras and Guatemala, related to the convict but easier to keep.
- Socolof's Cichlid Care GuideThorichthys socolofi (Chiapas cichlid) is a Mexican cichlid of the Grijalva River basin, closely related to the firemouth.
- Heller's Cichlid Care GuideThorichthys helleri (yellow cichlid) is a Mexican cichlid of the Coatzacoalcos-Usumacinta drainages, a firemouth relative.
- Thorichthys callolepis Care GuideThorichthys callolepis is a Mexican cichlid of the Coatzacoalcos drainage, a less-traded relative of the firemouth.
- Pasion Cichlid (Thorichthys pasionis) Care GuideThorichthys pasionis is a small firemouth relative from the Usumacinta drainage of Mexico and Guatemala, with a metallic iridescent body.
- Blue Flash Cichlid (Thorichthys aureus) Care GuideThorichthys aureus is a small firemouth relative from the Atlantic slope of Central America, known for iridescent blue flank coloration.
- Ellioti Cichlid (Thorichthys ellioti) Care GuideThorichthys ellioti is a small Mexican cichlid of the Papaloapán region, closely related to the firemouth and treated as a synonym of Thoric
- Two-Banded Cichlid (Vieja bifasciata) Care GuideVieja bifasciata is a large detritivorous cichlid of the Grijalva and Usumacinta basins in Mexico and Guatemala, reaching about 30 cm.
- Redhead Cichlid (Vieja synspila) Care GuideVieja synspila is a large Mexican cichlid widely known in the hobby; it is regarded as a junior synonym of Vieja melanura and is one parent
- Vieja fenestrata Care GuideVieja fenestrata is a large Mexican cichlid of Atlantic-slope rivers, feeding mainly on plant matter and reaching about 25 cm.
- Black Belt Cichlid (Vieja maculicauda) Care GuideVieja maculicauda is a large detritivorous cichlid ranging from southern Mexico to Panama, named for the bold dark band across its body.
- Redhead Cichlid (Vieja melanura) Care GuideVieja melanura is a large detritivorous cichlid of the Atlantic slope of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, with a dark caudal band and herbivoro
- Arrow Cichlid (Amphilophus zaliosus) Care GuideAmphilophus zaliosus is a slender, elongate cichlid endemic to Lake Apoyo in Nicaragua and rated Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
- Amarillo Cichlid (Amphilophus amarillo) Care GuideAmphilophus amarillo is a yellow, snail-eating cichlid endemic to crater Lake Xiloá in Nicaragua, part of the Midas cichlid species complex.
- Xiloa Cichlid (Amphilophus xiloaensis) Care GuideAmphilophus xiloaensis is a colour-variable Midas-complex cichlid endemic to the crater Lake Xiloá in Nicaragua, where it feeds largely on s
- Red Devil Cichlid (Amphilophus labiatus) Care GuideAmphilophus labiatus is a large, aggressive cichlid endemic to Lakes Nicaragua and Managua, known for its powerful jaws and, in the wild, en
- Butterfly Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris) Care GuideCichla ocellaris is the type species of the peacock bass genus, a large piscivorous cichlid native to the Guianas and the Branco River in Br
- Kelberi Peacock Bass (Cichla kelberi) Care GuideCichla kelberi is a predatory peacock bass endemic to the Tocantins-Araguaia basin, widely stocked elsewhere, described by Kullander and Fer
- Blue Peacock Bass (Cichla piquiti) Care GuideCichla piquiti is a predatory peacock bass endemic to the Tocantins-Araguaia basin, with five dark vertical bars, described by Kullander and
- Monoculus Peacock Bass (Cichla monoculus) Care GuideCichla monoculus is a large, widespread Amazonian peacock bass and prized game fish, described by Agassiz in 1831.
- Speckled Peacock Bass (Cichla temensis) Care GuideCichla temensis is the largest American cichlid, a piscivorous peacock bass from the Orinoco and Negro basins, described by Humboldt in 1821
- Orinoco Peacock Bass (Cichla orinocensis) Care GuideCichla orinocensis is a large predatory peacock bass from the Orinoco and Rio Negro basins, described by Humboldt in 1821.
- True Parrot Cichlid (Hoplarchus psittacus) Care GuideHoplarchus psittacus is a large blackwater cichlid from the Negro and upper Orinoco basins, described by Heckel in 1840 and not related to h
- Saddle Cichlid (Aequidens tetramerus) Care GuideAequidens tetramerus is a widespread, adaptable South American acara found across the Amazon and Orinoco systems, described by Heckel in 184
- Yellow Acara (Aequidens metae) Care GuideAequidens metae is a hardy Colombian acara from the Meta River in the Orinoco basin, described by Eigenmann in 1922.
- Blue Acara (Andinoacara latifrons) Care GuideAndinoacara latifrons is a hardy Colombian acara from the Magdalena and neighbouring basins, described by Steindachner in 1878.
- Blue-Dotted Acara (Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus) Care GuideAndinoacara coeruleopunctatus is a hardy Central American acara from Panama and Costa Rica with blue spotting on each scale, described by Kn
- Panda Uaru (Uaru fernandezyepezi) Care GuideUaru fernandezyepezi is a rare blackwater uaru from the Atabapo region of the Orinoco basin, described by Stawikowski in 1989 and listed as