[Jason_S]

Species Name: Cryptoheros nanoluteus

Common Name: none that I'm aware of

Size: ~3" for females and ~4" for males

pH: 7.0-7.8 though with proper acclimation they can withstand and thrive in slightly higher ph values. Mine are kept in ph of 8.2

Minimum Recommended Tank Size: 20 long or 29 gallons

Native Location: Central America

Temperature: 72-78 though they could probably withstand slightly higher temps.

Diet: Omnivore. This species is not picky about what they eat. It is best to feed a staple pellet diet with frozen/freeze dried/live treats no more than 2-4 times per week.

Breeding: Females lay eggs on a cleaned, flat surface and will guard the immediate area while Males guard the surrounding areas.

Gender Diffrences: Males will grow larger than females. The easiest way to sex these fish is that females have a black/dark blue spot in the middle of the dorsal fin. This dorsal spot is present from at least 2" if not slightly smaller.

Aggression: Not aggressive or overly territorial except when breeding. This fish will not do well with more aggressive fish.

Notes: This species is far less aggressive and does not grow as large as the closely related Convict cichlid. This species has also been documented as the most colorful of the Cryptoheros genus. A very pretty and rewarding fish though it is still quite rare in the hobby. One final note is that I have read several times and experienced that this species is quite a bit more fragile than its other Cryptoheros cousins.

This post has been edited by Jason_S: 28 July 2004 - 01:46 AM