Above: a nice young Cuban Cichlid in one of our aquariums.

Click here to see more pictures of this fish.

Click here to see several more pictures, where you will see that this is not a colorful Cichlid, but it has a unique and unusual pattern of markings, and we might expect the pattern to be unique, because this species has been separated from other Neotropical Cichlid species for a long time.

Comments: These are awesome fish with unique patterns and coloring.

Origin: These Cichlids originally lived only in Cuba, but now they are raised on fish farms for aquariums and live all over the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums they can grow to be about 10" long.

Behaviors: Cuban Cichlids are usually aggressive fish, and they are even more aggressive when preparing to spawn, spawning, and then protecting their babies.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include Pictus Catfish, Plecostomus Species, and Corydoras Catfish.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: These Cichlids live best from about 70 to 80-degrees F. with 75 to 78 being perhaps ideal.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food for this species and many Cichlids to eat.

It's best to feed them small pellets when they're small, then gradually increase the size of the pellets, as they grow bigger.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: These fish can adapt to most types of water, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or alkalinity of the water that they live in.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Cuban Cichlids will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 100-gallons of water.

Decor: Cuban Cichlids do not need gravel and a layer more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Cuban Cichlids love to have a cave or nice pile of rocks.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but this fish will usually dig plants up, so most aquariums with Cuban Cichlids do not have live plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

Most 50-gallon aquariums have room along the back for one or maybe two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of the minimum set up for Cuban Cichlids.

Better is a 80, 100, 120, 150, or 200-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Cuban Cichlids can live for several years.

With excellent food and lots of partial water changes, they can live for many years.

Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they'll most likely breed and produce the next generation of fish for your aquarium.

Gender: When they're small it's not so easy to tell males from females just by looking at them, but when they mature, the male will be larger with longer more pointed fins, and females become plumper as they fill with eggs.

Breeding: Cuban Cichlids need a cave or pile of rocks to lay their eggs in.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: The Cuban Cichlid is rare and not a very popular aquarium fish, but the people who own them love them a lot.

Names: Their scientific name is Nandopsis tetracanthus.

Variations: We have not seen any variations, but they live across a wide area in Cuba, including fast moving streams and standing water.

We expect the ones from fast moving streams to have more of a torpedo shape.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrT - 10/15/2016