The checkerboard cichlid one of the classic midsized cichlids which sadly is not always available for sale. But with the internet finding rare and unusual cichlids becomes a thing of the past. Today you have an opportunity pick up some of these interesting cichlids. Their known to reach some five inches in length and are omnivorous feeders. So they will accept a broad range of prepared cichlid foods. These fish are substrate spawners or egg layers and spawn in typical cichlid fashion.

 

Currently we have several species of checkerboard cichlids (genera Crenicara and Dicrossus) in stock. Most of them are real rarities in the hobby, among them Crenicara punctulatum. We obtained this pretty species from Peru.

 

Males of Crenicara punctulatum can attain a maximum length of about 12 cm, so this species is not a dwarf cichlid in the strict sense. But as this species is very peaceful the fact that they grow to a bit larger size doesn´t matter too much. Crenicara punctulatum belongs to the very few species of freshwater fish that can change the sex. As far as it is known, all newborn specimens are females. One can recognize sexually active females easily by the bright orange ventral fins. If no male is present in the tank, the strongest female will change from a functional female to a functional male. This phenomenon is very common in marine coral fish and known under the term of "protogynous hermaphrodism".

 

Keeping Crenicara punctulatum is pretty easy. However, these fish need a larger place filled with fine sand in the tank. This sand is checked for food day-in and day-out. The species is an open brooder. Males mate with several females. The male has to defend the territory while the females look for the eggs and offspring.

 

For our customers: the fish have code 669003 on our stock list. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!

 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer