Flag Cichlid

About

The flag cichlid (Mesonauta guyanae) is one of those cichlids that quietly challenges the assumption that the whole group is aggressive and difficult. Native to the blackwater river systems of the Amazon basin, particularly the Rio Negro drainage in Brazil and the Essequibo drainage in Guyana, this is a fish built for tannin-stained, soft, acidic waters, though it tolerates a wider range than many of its wild cousins. In the aquarium it tends toward the shy end of the spectrum, often hanging mid-water and taking its time warming up to a new environment. That reserved nature actually makes it a reasonable candidate for a large peaceful community, where it won't bully smaller tankmates the way many cichlids would. Visually it's a disc-shaped fish with the lateral banding and bold horizontal stripe running through the eye that's characteristic of the Mesonauta genus. Useful for identification when distinguishing it from the several closely related species that have historically been lumped together under the festive cichlid name. Feeding is straightforward given its omnivorous appetite, but providing good cover and a well-planted setup will go a long way toward getting this fish comfortable enough to show its best colors and behavior.