2 x flag cichlid - Mesonauta festivus - DNZ pair

From the family of South American cichlids, the flag cichlid, Mesonauta festivus, is another great cichlid that makes the heart of perch freaks beat faster. Originally from the Amazon region, this medium-sized cichlid is found from Brazil to Bolivia to Peru and can be kept quite easily on its own, but also in a community aquarium.

Our flag cichlids are German offspring, which you get as a pair.

Mesonauta festivus show the typical perch shape with a slight high back. On the light ground color there are several weakly pronounced bands, which are deflected by a clear and very distinctive black longitudinal band, which begins behind the eye and loses itself in the rear third of the dorsal fin. The fins are yellowish transparent with speckles, and the pelvic fins are pointedly extended. The iris may be colored red. Flag cichlids reach a body length of about 12 to 15 cm, with females remaining slightly smaller. The conspicuous "nose"ofadult males allows them to be distinguished in sex.

As open breeders, flag cichlids can also be bred in the aquarium. The female can lay up to 500 eggs, which are subsequently inseminated by the male. The parents are caring brood keepers, defending and guarding the clutch and even caring for the young until they become independent.

Although flag cichlids can certainly be kept alone, they prefer the company of their mates. Due to its size, it should be kept in aquariums of 250 liters or more and prefers a pH between 6 and 7.5. It feels most comfortable at 23 to 26 °C water temperature. Flag Cichlids need many hiding places and caves in the aquarium, which is why it should be very well structured. Ideally, bog pine roots and boulders form a good infrastructure on the aquarium floor. Also, large-leaved plants, which definitely reach the water surface, should not be missing. Echinodorus and Valisneria are particularly suitable for this purpose.

Flag cichlids are excellent to socialize with fish that prefer similar water parameters. Especially suitable for this are various Sailfin (the so-called angelfish), but also armored catfish and loricariids. As typical for most perch, they are good hunters and rarely miss invertebrates as a snack.

As carnivores, the pretty flag cichlids can be fed with commercially available  dry food in the form of flake food or granulated food for carnivorous ornamental fish. But also occasional tasty morsels in the form of live food, such as daphnia, water fleas, artemia or grindal worms will be gratefully accepted. However, it should not eat mosquito larvae.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Cichfeed has a grain size of 1.5 mm and is therefore also suitable for larger fish. NH Cichfeed is a soft granulate for predominantly carnivorous fish. It has the same consistency as small crustaceans and insect larvae that fish naturally eat, and the soft granules protect the fish's mouth from micro-injuries that can result from hard feed granules.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.