Blue-spotted perch "Neon Blue" - Aequidens pulcher - DNZ - 5cm - single specimen

The Neon Blue Cichlid is also called Aequidens pulcher or Aequidens latifrons and is a particularly blue breeding form of the cichlid originally from South America. Especially their peacefulness and the easy keeping make them so interesting for cichlid fans. Likewise they can be bred quite simply, which provides in the aquarium for an experience. It is also called Nannacara Neon Blue and lives in pairs.

Our Neon Blue Blue-spotted Cichlids are available as pairs in a size of about 5 cm. These are German offspring.

With a final size of almost 20 cm they become quite large, but usually remain smaller in the aquarium.  The Aequidens pulcher has the typical perch body with a slight high back and a terminal mouth. On the bright ground color there are shiny scales, which iridesce and glitter neon blue and silver depending on the incidence of light. The fins are pointedly extended and transparent to bluish and may be yellow fringed. The pectoral fins have white tips.

Breeding in the aquarium is possible. For this purpose, the animals should be offered flat stone patties such as slate. Elevated water temperatures and vigorous feeding will aid in spawning preparation, encouraging the animals to do so several times a year. The eggs are laid openly and guarded, the parents are quite caring and do not prey on the young. With very fine live food like nauplii and infusoria the young can be raised well.

The Neon Blue Cichlid does not eat aquatic plants and can be kept well from 200 liters , but due to the expected final size more would be better. Sand would be advantageous as substrate, as the fish tend to "chew through". Many caves and hiding places are advantageous for the fish, also with roots a good infrastructure and a visual protection can be created, since the animals can tend to territorial disputes in places. Its water should have a pH value of 6.5 to 8, also it can be kept prima at 18-28 °C, so that a regular heater in the aquarium is not absolutely necessary.

Thus it is a very undemanding and tolerant co-inhabitant, which can also be well socialized with livebearers such as Guppies or Platys, which can also be maintained at room temperature. It also gets along well with loricariids. A socialization with dwarf shrimps or crayfish should rather be refrained from.

This omnivore can be fed without problems with any commercial dry food in the form of flake food or granulated food, but also with food tablets for carnivorous ornamental fish. Live food such as daphnia, water fleas, artemia or grindal worms round off its menu smartly. Red mosquito larvae, however, should not be on his menu.

Our food recommendation: NatureHolic Cichfeed is a great staple food for all carnivorous cichlids in the aquarium, perfectly meeting their dietary requirements. The tasty pearls are also very well eaten by larger cichlids. Thanks to their soft texture, NatureHolic Cichfeed food pearls are gentle on the mouth and can be eaten very well by the fish.

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

Expert Tip: We recommend when keeping fish 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.

Picture: Enrico Richter - exclusively for Garnelio