Flag Cichlid

About

The festive cichlid (Mesonauta festivus) is one of those cichlids that earns its keep without causing trouble. A refreshing quality in a family known for its troublemakers. The most recognizable feature is a bold diagonal black stripe running from the lower jaw up through the eye and across the body toward the dorsal fin, a pattern that makes identification pretty straightforward. Native to a broad sweep of South American river systems including the Paraguay, Guaporé, Madre de Dios, and Mamoré drainages, wild fish tend to hang around vegetated shallows, sandy shores, and slow-moving creeks. Environments worth replicating in the aquarium. Despite its size potential, this is a notably peaceful cichlid that coexists well with other mild-mannered species like geophagus, apistogramma, small tetras, and peaceful catfish. Worth noting: it can be somewhat shy and easily spooked, so a well-planted tank with some cover goes a long way toward keeping it comfortable. Breeding behavior is genuinely interesting. Pairs clean a flat surface, lay upward of 200 eggs, and both parents guard and tend the fry through the wriggler stage. They can be nervous parents, though, and disturbances may cause them to eat their own eggs or fry. One more quirk for the curious buyer: the fish sold as Flag Cichlid in most shops is often Mesonauta insignis rather than this species.