Keyhole cichlid
Cleithracara maronii
The keyhole cichlid from the lower Orinoco and the Guianas has a keyhole-shaped dark spot on its flank. It lives in slow-flowing creeks with plenty of wood. Shy and peaceful, when frightened it presses against a log and changes colour to camouflage itself. The parents tend the eggs, laid on a flat stone.
- Scientific name
- Cleithracara maronii
- Family
- Cichlidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Order
- Cichliformes
- Synonyms
- Acara maronii, Aequidens maronii, Cleithracara maroni
Origin
- Native region
- América do Sul, América do Norte
Water
- Temperature
- 21–28 °C
- pH
- 4–7.5
- General hardness (GH)
- 2–15 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 11 cm
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 81 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 90 cm
Behavior
- Social life
- Pair
- Swimming level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Substrate or cave spawner
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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