Sajica cichlid - Cryptoheros sajica

The Sajca C ichlid is also called Costa Rica Cichlid or Wine Redfin Cichlid and its scientific name is Crypthoheros sajica. It originates from slow flowing habitats in Central America and is relatively easy to maintain and even breed in medium to hard water. Because it crosses with the zebra cichlid, Archoentrus nigrofasciatus, you should better not keep these two together.

They exhibit the typical high back with a gray base color. The females develop orange-yellow round dorsal fins that are blue-black fringed in places. In contrast, the male has red fin rays and turquoise fin skins, also his dorsal and anal fins run out pointedly. Depending on the mood, it also develops dark transverse bands on the flanks.

Offer your favorites an aquarium from 120 cm edge length and structure it well with roots and stone structures secured against falling over. Caves or Sand can be used as substrate, gravel with rounded grains is also suitable. Perching plants like Anubias, Bucephalandra or Javafarn are quite suitable for planting, also Vallisneria can be placed at the edge or in the background. In general, your animals do not burrow very much. To support their well-being you can shade the water surface a bit.

The sexes can be easily distinguished by their body size, because the males reach about 18 cm, the females are a bit smaller with 12 cm. Your favorites are open and cave breeders, which take care of their offspring. Inverted flower pots or caves are also suitable for spawning. The young hatch after three days and feed on their yolk sac in the beginning. Later you can raise them with Artemia nauplii.

Because they are very peaceful and easy to keep, you can also keep them in pairs with other peaceful species of about the same size. But you should better avoid invertebrates.

As omnivore you can feed it quite uncomplicated, but pay attention to a predominantly vegetable diet. He eats dry food like granules and also live, FD and frozen food. Feed him species-appropriate and varied, so that he stays with you for a long time.

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

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use 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 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.