Chequerboard Cichlids

[SarahBravo]

I saw these and bought them as a complete impulse buy. However, having found out the basics about them, I think they will go very nicely in my tetra tank. (They are currently in quarantine). Does anyone have any first hand experience with them or know more than low pH/blackwater environment?

I will try and take some pics, they are really beautiful. They look just black and white till you get in close, then you see glorious red/blue shimmers all over them!

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi there,

I have them (and I know of at least 1 other person who has them on here). Is it D maculatus or D filamentosus you have??? (D filamentosus males once matured have beatiful lyre tail, D maculatus has a spade shaped tail.

The aim for me is to breed them, everything I have heard and seen revolves around water quality with these guys, pH below 6, very soft water and no nitrates present seems to be the key.

Shouldn't expect you to have any problems in with the tetras. Mine currently reside with some 7 week old apistogramma fry and quite happily eat the bbs, daphnia, artemia, mysis and blood worm that goes in the tank for feeding the young 'uns.

Andrew

ps > can a mod move this to the new world forum as these guys are from south america

 

[SarahBravo]

Sorry, I'm a div....I looked them on Fishprofiles, and it said Orinoco River, and I thought "Oh, they're african, I was sure they were new world!!!"

I have the filamentosa ones, the male already has a beautiful lyre shaped tail, he's gonna be soooo purty when he's grown up!