Laetacara dorsigera Breeding Guide

Breeding the red-breasted flag cichlid Laetacara dorsigera: a peaceful biparental substrate spawner whose breeders show red cheeks and belly.

Overview

Laetacara dorsigera is a peaceful South American dwarf cichlid and a biparental substrate spawner, with both parents tending eggs and fry laid on a surface (Seriously Fish). The KB record rates its breeding difficulty as beginner and lists soft-water community conditions.

Sexing

Seriously Fish reports that breeding males and females display conspicuous red cheeks, opercula and belly, a feature that distinguishes the species from related congeners. Non-breeding sexing traits are not detailed in the source.

Conditioning

The KB record classifies L. dorsigera as an omnivore fed twice daily. A varied diet supports breeding condition; no species-specific conditioning protocol is documented in the source.

Breeding Setup

Provide a flat stone or broad leaf as a spawning surface in soft water. The KB record lists a minimum tank volume of 100 L with temperatures of 22-28 °C, pH 5.5-7.2 and GH 2-10. Specific spawning-water adjustments are not documented in the source.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

As a biparental substrate spawner, the pair selects, cleans and defends a surface before depositing eggs (Seriously Fish). Detailed spawning sequence and clutch size are not documented in the source.

Egg & Fry Care

Both parents participate in guarding the eggs and protecting the fry (Seriously Fish). Detailed fry-rearing data are not provided in the source.

Common Challenges

Detailed breeding obstacles are not documented for this species; the KB record rates breeding as beginner level.