Chessboard Cichlid

COMMON NAMES: Checkerboard or Chessboard Cichlid

SCIENTIFIC NAME: CreniCara filainentosa

DESIGNATION: Tropical

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Central Amazonbasin

SIZE: Up to 8 cm (3.2 in), often a bit smaller

WATER PREFERENCES:This species dislikesdirty water. Soft, slightly acid water preferred. Temperature: 23-25°C (73.5-77°F).

DIET: All foods, particularly clean bottom-dwelling livefoods.

BREEDING: Eggs are laid on or between stonesand are guarded by both parents

DESCRIPTION: C. fithnientosa is ashy, retiring species seen at its best onlywhen kept in subdued, sheltered conditions.

Chessboard Cichlid Information

• This small sized cichlid is a peaceful fish and can easily get along with other peaceful species of the cichlid. They are quite hardy but may not be quite easy for the armature fish breeders as this fish extremely sensitive to the water chemistry. If the water quality is well maintained the fish can survive healthily for quite a long time.
• Apart from the chemistry of the water you are also recommended to prepare the tank of the fish which would give ample shades to hide. Due to the shy character of the fish the fish prefers to swim inside and outside of the rocky caves of the aquarium.
• The fish prefers to lay eggs on the leaf surfaces and the wood blogs. Both the parents take part in guarding their brood of eggs, especially the female.
• It is again challenging for the breeders to rear the fry as they are too sensitive to survive under any chemical changes of the water.
• The water of the tank in which the fish are to be reared must be nitrate free, acidic and soft in composition. Ideally the ph level of the water should be in between 5.6 and 6.7, temperature should be 22 to 26 degree celcius or 71.6 - 78.8 °F.
• The fish mainly swims around the middle levels of the water tanks and the mode of laying eggs is by spwaning.
• The original place of the fish is the tropics and is mainly found in the temperature range between 23 to 25 degree celcius. South of America is the native place of the fish including the Amazon basin, Negro river drainage, Orinoco River basin extending from the Inнrida River at Columbia to Maripa of Venezuela.
• The fish should be kept in Aquarium in pairs and the minimum size of the aquarium should be not less than 80 cms.