photo credit: difemota

 

Caquetaia are a small group of South American cichlids known as gape and suck predators. This small group of Caquetaia species includes C. kraussii, C. myersi, C. spectabilis and C. umbrifera. The most recognizable species of this genu would have to be Caquetaia umbrifera offered for sale as the Umbee cichld.

 

The Umbee cichlid will grow to some 20 inches or more while the others will not reach half of this impressive length. What make these cichlids so distinguishable are their jaws which are highly protractible. This allows them to project it out towards prey and vacuum smaller fish into their mouths.

 

Caquetaia speices are found in Panama, Brazil and Venezula and are omnivorous and large beautiful cichlids. The rarer species which is not commonly offered is Caquetaia myersi. All in all these fish are stunning and are suited for large aquariums.

 

 

Caquetaia kraussii (Steindachner, 1878)

 

Caquetaia myersi (L. P. Schultz, 1944)

 

Caquetaia spectabilis (Steindachner, 1875)

 

Caquetaia umbrifera (Meek & Hildebrand, 1913)