Parachromis motaguensis Care Guide
Parachromis motaguensis is a large predatory cichlid from the Motagua basin of Guatemala and Honduras, reaching about 30 cm.
Overview
Parachromis motaguensis is a large cichlid native to Central America. According to FishBase its range covers the Atlantic slope of Guatemala and Honduras in the Motagua River basin, and the Pacific slope from the Naranjo River in Guatemala to the Choluteca River in Honduras. It is a robust, heavily built predator commonly known in the aquarium trade as the red tiger or false yellowjacket cichlid.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Parachromis
- Scientific name: Parachromis motaguensis
Habitat
The species occurs in fresh and brackish waters and is described as benthopelagic. FishBase records it from both Atlantic and Pacific drainages across Guatemala and Honduras, where it inhabits rivers of the Motagua and adjacent basins. The climate of its range is tropical.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 500 L
- Temperature: 25-29 °C (77-84 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Maximum size: about 30 cm TL
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
Parachromis motaguensis is a carnivore. In the wild it preys on fish and on aquatic and terrestrial insects (FishBase). In captivity it accepts a range of meaty foods such as bloodworm, earthworm, mysis and chopped seafood; frozen items are preferred over live feeder fish to reduce disease risk.
Compatibility
This is an aggressive and highly territorial mid-water species. It is best kept with similarly large and robust Central American cichlids or large plecos, and should not be combined with small fish that it will treat as prey.
Breeding
It is a substrate spawner with biparental care. Females lay roughly 1,000-2,000 eggs that hatch in about 5-7 days, and both parents guard eggs and fry.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2019. The species is also farmed commercially within its range.