Redspot Cichlid

About

Found on the Pacific slope of Panama, Amphilophus calobrensis is one of the less frequently encountered members of its genus in the hobby, partly overshadowed by more commonly traded relatives like the midas cichlid. Taxonomically it has had a restless history, having been shuffled between Cichlasoma, Astatheros, and Amphilophus over the years, and some specialists think it may eventually land in its own newly described genus based on traits that set it apart from close relatives. It grows into a solid, imposing fish and carries the characteristically fierce temperament of the group. Keeping it with tankmates is genuinely challenging. You need very large quarters and robust, fast-moving companions like tinfoil barbs or large catfish to have any realistic chance of cohabitation. Breeding is one of the more rewarding, and nerve-wracking, experiences Central American cichlid keepers can have. The safest route to a compatible pair is raising a group of juveniles together and letting bonds form naturally, since introducing adults can easily end in the female being killed. Once a true pair forms, parental care is attentive and impressive, with both fish guarding eggs and wriggler pits. However, the male can turn on the female at almost any point in the process, so having a tank divider on hand is genuinely good advice rather than just caution.