Astatheros macracanthus

About

Found on the Pacific slope of Central America, from southern Mexico down through El Salvador, Amphilophus macracanthus is a sizeable cichlid that spends most of its time close to the substrate. Like many of its relatives in the region, it roots around the bottom in search of food, taking a wide range of items as an opportunistic omnivore. Adults can push close to ten inches in length, so this is not a fish you can squeeze into a modest setup. Give it real room to move and claim territory. Breeding activity in the wild tends to fall between late spring and late summer, and like most Amphilophus species, pairs are likely to show the intense parental behavior typical of Central American cichlids. That territorial instinct carries into the aquarium, and tankmates need to be chosen with care. This isn't the most difficult cichlid to keep, but its size, personality, and need for space put it firmly in intermediate territory rather than beginner-friendly. Someone already comfortable managing larger, assertive New World cichlids will find it a rewarding and long-lived resident, capable of reaching eight to ten years with good husbandry.