Checkerboard cichlid
Crenicara punctulata
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The checkerboard cichlid lives in forest creeks and sandy river shores in the Amazon and Essequibo basins. It is one of the few freshwater fish that change sex: all are born female, and the dominant female becomes a male. Males reach about 12 centimetres; females are much smaller.
- Scientific name
- Crenicara punctulata
- Family
- Cichlidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Order
- Cichliformes
- Synonyms
- Acara punctulata, Acara punctulatus, Aequidens hercules, Aequidens madeirae, Crenicara elegans, Crenicara punctulatum
Origin
- Native region
- América do Sul
Water
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C
- pH
- 5–6
- General hardness (GH)
- 0.1–10 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 12 cm
Behavior
- Swimming level
- Middle
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Substrate or cave spawner
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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