Chestnut cichlid
| Chestnut cichlid | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chestnut cichlid ( Cleithracara maronii ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Cleithracara | ||||||||||||
| Kullander & Nijssen , 1989 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Cleithracara maronii | ||||||||||||
| ( Steindachner , 1891) |
The chestnut cichlid ( Cleithracara maronii ) lives in northern South America , in slowly flowing rivers and streams of the three Guyanas and in the Orinoco Delta . It prefers biotopes that are richly divided by dead wood.
features
The fish have a cream-colored to light brown basic color. In addition, the species shows a conspicuous startle color: when alarmed, an irregular dark brown covers its body. A dark band runs from the base of the dorsal fin over the eye to the lower edge of the gill cover. Under the last spines of the hard-radiating part of the dorsal fin is a dark, light-rimmed spot that runs downward in an indistinct band. That is why the fish are also called keyhole cichlids . Males are slightly larger and have slightly longer fins than females. In old animals, the dorsal and anal fins are pulled out over the caudal fin. Visible differentiation only through the genital papilla of the milker .
Reproduction
The chestnut cichlid is an open brooder that lays its up to 400 eggs on a flat stone or a large leaf. The brood is cared for and guarded by both parents.
Aquaristics
The chestnut cichlid was introduced to Germany for the first time in 1936. It can be kept well in a planted community or natural aquarium , as it is not as aggressive as many other cichlids and does not dig in the ground. It would be appropriate to socialize with other fish from its native habitat, such as the glow light tetra , the jewel tetra and armored catfish . However, it should not be socialized with aggressive or overly lively species as it is very timid. The water should be soft and slightly acidic ( pH around 6.5). The temperature should be 23–26 ° C. Almost all chestnut cichlids on the market are bred. They often no longer reach the natural length of 10 centimeters, but remain dwarfed as a result of inbreeding for generations. As far as feeding the animals is concerned, they are not picky about food, he gratefully accepts food tablets, dry food, live food and frost. Nevertheless, it is advisable to offer the animals a varied diet.
Hints
literature
- Günther Sterba : The world's freshwater fish. 2nd Edition. Urania, Leipzig / Jena / Berlin 1990, ISBN 3-332-00109-4 .
