[Jason_S]

Species Name: Cryptoheros sajica

Common Name: T-Bar Cichlid

Size: ~4" for females and ~5" for males, though they might grow slightly larger

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

Minimum Recommended Tank Size: 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 Differences: Males will grow larger than females. Mature males will also grow a nuchal hump.

Aggression: Not overly aggressive, but will become territorial during spawning. Should be fine in large enough tanks with other medium sized cichlids of similar aggression.

Notes: This species is not as aggressive as its cousin the Convict cichlid. The T-Bar cichlid is becoming more and more common but is still quite rare in some areas. Once mature this is a gorgeous species. This species can and will hybridize with other Cryptoheros and Archocentrus spp. so be very careful if keeping different species together.

This post has been edited by Jason_S: 28 July 2004 - 01:32 AM