Species Profile: Nandopsis salvini (Tri-color Cichlid)

Scientific Name: Nandopsis salvini
Common Name: Tri-color Cichlid
Distribution: Most of Central America, especially Nicaragua, however, this species exists not just in the lake, but in the rivers and streams too.
Habitat: In shaded lakesides and riverbanks (they rarely swim in open water).
Maximum Size: 7" for males, 6" for females.
Minimum Tank Size: A tank measuring 3ft in length is adequate for a breeding pair, while a 2ft tank can probably house a single adult Tri-color Cichlid quite comfortably. In a cichlid community, a tank of at least 6ft in length is required.
Tank Set-up: Typical Central American lacustrine/riverine set-up, with bogwood and calcareous rocks (calcareous rocks will help maintain the pH and hardness levels). Planting is not advisable, as they will certainly be uprooted.
Temperature: 24-28 C
pH: 7.0 - 8.0
Hardness: Hard water is preferred.
Diet: Anything meaty except fatty mammalian meat. Examples are pre-killed fish (silversides, guppies, platies, rosy-reds, etc.), thawed chunks of prawn/chicken/fish, insects, frogs, dry foods, frozen foods such as bloodworm, spirulina and brine shrimp, and also, definitely, cichlids' favorite: live ghost shrimp.
Temperament: A vicious cichlid which must be given lots of space and retreats, otherwise it might harass weaker fish (mostly cichlids). This species is highly intolerant of conspecifics.
Sexing: Females have a black patch at the dorsal fin, are plumper, and don't get to as large a size as the males.
Breeding: The couple clean a smooth surface before the female lays her eggs. Afterwards, the male will fertilize them. About 48 hours later, the eggs will be almost transparent and you will see black 'eyes' inside. If the eggs are still white, they are most probabaly unfertilized. Once the eggs hatch, the parents move them to pits dug by them in the gravel. Later, when the babies become free-swimming, the leave the pit and swim in a shoal near the parents. Free-swimming fry can be fed on very fine powdered flake and brine shrimp nauplii. Powdered egg yolk is a great food too as it's VERY high in protein. Microworms are another alternative. Separate the fry by size as the Tri-color Cichlid has piscivorous tendencies and will not hesitate to eat any fish that can fit into its mouth, unless they are its offspring. Therefore, the smallest will probably end up in the tummies of the biggest.