Jaguar Guapote

About

The false yellowjacket cichlid (Parachromis motaguensis) is a large, assertive predator from the Atlantic and Pacific drainages of Guatemala and Honduras, where it favors the moderate to fast-moving stretches of rivers like the Motagua. In the wild it hunts fish and both aquatic and terrestrial insects, and that predatory mindset carries straight into the aquarium. Anything small enough to swallow will be treated as a meal. Aggression is a constant factor here, directed at its own kind and at unrelated tankmates alike, so careful stocking is essential. That said, it can work well in a large setup alongside other sizable, assertive Central American cichlids, provided everyone is roughly matched in temperament. Breeding adds a whole new level of intensity: courtship involves dramatic gill flaring and mock lunges, and a mature pair can deposit up to 2,000 eggs. Once the fry hatch, the parents become ferociously territorial. Large breeding individuals have been known to bite chunks out of the hands of fishkeepers doing maintenance, and they will crash into the glass during threat displays hard enough to knock out teeth, though those do grow back. Listed as beginner-level in terms of basic water care, but make no mistake. The behavior demands an experienced and attentive keeper.