Cichlasoma nicaraguense

A spectacularly colored cichlid found in lakes and rivers in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the Nicaraguan Cichlid or Nicaraguense has been popular in the hobby for years. Like most Central American Cichlids, they can be fiercely territorial and tankmates should be chosen carefully. In the wild, they are social fish and are often found in large aggregations. An extremely hardy fish, they prefer slightly alkaline water and will do best with a varied diet.