Wessel's Cichlid

About

Found in the Atlantic-draining Papaloteca River basin of Honduras, Theraps wesseli is a Central American cichlid that remains one of the less frequently encountered members of its genus in the hobby. Like most therapsine cichlids, it carries the robust, laterally compressed body plan typical of the group, and adults can vary considerably in size depending on conditions and sex. In the wild it inhabits river systems where harder, alkaline water is the norm, and replicating those conditions in the aquarium will keep this fish at its best. Expect the personality you'd anticipate from a medium-sized Central American cichlid. Territorial tendencies, especially during spawning, and a confident presence that makes it a fish you'll notice. It's an omnivore, so a varied diet of quality pellets supplemented with frozen or live foods suits it well. Tankmates need to be chosen with some thought; similarly sized, robust fish that can hold their own are a better fit than anything small or timid. This isn't a fish for a community setup with peaceful species, but for someone with experience keeping Central American cichlids, it's a rewarding and somewhat uncommon species worth seeking out.