Flag Cichlid (Laetacara curviceps)

From The Aquarium Wiki
(Redirected from Dwarf Flag Cichlid)
Jump to: navigation, search
No Image.png
Flag Cichlid

Laetacara curviceps

170 Litres (45 US G.)

5.1-7.1cm (2-2.8 ")

sg

Freshwater

pH

5.2 - 7.5

22 -26 °C (71.6-78.8°F)

5-12 °d

1:1 M:F

Omnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Live Foods

5-8 years

Family

Cichlidae

This animal is available captive bred



Additional names

Flag Cichlid, Flag Acara, Dwarf Flag Cichlid

Additional scientific names

Acara curviceps, Aequidens curviceps


Sexing[edit]

These Cichlids are fairly tricky to sex when juvenile. Adults only have subtle differences. Males develop more pointed anal, ventral and dorsal fins and are larger than females. Females have a dark blotch on the dorsal fin which is larger than the males and tend to be stockier in body when gravid with eggs.


Tank compatibility[edit]

A peaceful small Cichlid best kept in peaceful set ups. They are happiest in a male/female mated pair, but in a large enough tank a group can be kept provided there's plenty of cover. Despite being peaceful, if they spawn they will defend their brood fiercely! When not spawning they will be shy and are best with a shoal of dither fish such as South American Tetras or Pencilfish. They can also be kept with Corydoras and Angelfish and, in a large enough tank, Apistogrammas.


Diet[edit]

This Cichlid should accept most foods and should be offered a varied diet, to include good quality Cichlid pellets/flake and also live/frozen food such as brine shrimp and bloodworm, vegetable matter should also be offered such as spirulina based food.


Feeding regime[edit]

Feed once or twice a day. Food should be sinking as they may or may not come to the surface for food.


Environment specifics[edit]

The ideal set up for this fish would be a densely planted tank with plenty of bogwood/rock décor to create caves. Planting should include floating plants as they do not like bright lighting and the substrate should be dark. They do not appreciate strong currents. This fish is sensitive to water chemistry so should only be kept in mature tanks and tank maintenance should be kept on top of.


Behaviour[edit]

A small shy Cichlid which is generally peaceful except when spawning.


Identification[edit]

Similar in shape to Apistogrammas, this is a small oval-shaped Cichlid with a dark band running from behind its eye to mid way down the body. Generally the back and head are olive grey. The flanks are green to blue in colour, increasing in colour as they near the caudal fin. Occasionally a few scales may be red. The first rays of the dorsal fin are light-green becoming green, then dark blue on the final rays. This fin is marked with a red edge. The caudal fin is dull red-orange in colour with a series of blue, broken lines. The anal fin is the most colourful of all, with the middle rays being deep blue, and the outer partners having similar colouration to that of the caudal fin. Red and blue morphs are also widely available.

Pictures[edit]

Videos[edit]

Spawning Flag Cichlids:

External links[edit]