Compressed Cichlid

Special requirements

• Complex Rockwork

  Requires an environment filled with rocky rubble and tight crevices. These fish are physically adapted to slide into narrow gaps to hunt and hide.

• Size-Restrictive Spawning Sites

  Breeding occurs in crevices so small only the female can enter. The male fertilizes the eggs from the entrance.

• Shrimp-Based Diet

  Specialized carnivore; in the wild, over 80% of their diet consists of shrimp. Captive diets should prioritize prawns, Mysis, and other meaty frozen foods.

• Locality Isolation

  Numerous color morphs exist (e.g., 'Firefin', 'Golden Head'). Different populations should never be mixed to prevent hybridization and maintain genetic integrity.