Title: Jaguar Cichlid
Description: Cichlasoma managuense
Description: Cichlasoma managuense
Cichlid Commander - March 13, 2006 11:23 PM (GMT)
Jaguar Cichlid
Cichlasoma managuense
Jaguar Cichlid Facts
Origin Nicaragua and Central American environs
Maximum Size Males 16 inches. Females 14 inches.
Sexing Males larger, more colorful, longer finned
Housing Bigger the better
Security Not a hider but needs space
Temperature Prefers 75 to 80
Attitude Aggressive and hungry
Breeding Like the Dempsey
Foods Not picky
Water Not picky
Origins: As the managuense name implies, these guys originally came from Nicaragua (capitol city Managua). Many of the ones we see these days come from local breeders and fish farms.
Name Origin: The ?jaguar? in their common name refers to their spotted body patterns somewhat like the fur-bearing jaguars. These spots and/or blotches vary considerably.
Filtration: You cannot over filter your managuense.
Water Conditions: Jaguars readily adapt to a wide variety of water conditions. They color best when kept in clean water. Frequent water changes help brings out the violet sheen that makes them such knockouts at maturity.
Appeal: Besides looking pretty, these guys eat like there?s no tomorrow. They hit goldfish like a bass hitting a plug. Most fans like them because of their huge appetites. Others like the way they look. In a way, they resemble our black crappies. Pretty Size: Adults easily exceed a foot when kept in large aquaria. They grow larger than Oscars if given 50 gallons of water per fish. Frequent water changes help them grow.
Jumpers: For some strange reason Jaguars like to bail. You?d expect them to jump if kept with other biters and fighters. However, jaguars bail even when kept alone. Keep them tightly covered or expect to find them on the floor. A layer of duckweed on the top decreases their jumping activity. A well-secured cover works even better.
Tank Mates: Looking for a mixer with other large cichlids? Mix your jaguars with other large, rowdy cichlids. Remember that big fish eat smaller fish. And if they can?t swallow them, big fish beat little fish.
Foods: Feeding jaguars presents no problem. They love goldfish, crayfish, and night crawlers. They eagerly eat frozen plankton and krill. Ditto the freeze-dried ones. They also eat pellets. Give them pellets with carotenes to bring out their color.
Gravel Choice: Darker gravels will darken your jaguar cichlids. Light gravels bleach them out. Darker gravels also brings out that purple/violet (or whatever color) sheen.
Plants: Like all large cichlids, jaguars will rip up live plants. They also uproot plastic plants. If you use plastic plants, glue gravel onto their bases to keep them from floating. Glue on the gravel with aquarium sealer. Use the same color as your other gravel and your plants will always look planted.
Breeding. You can breed jaguars fairly easily (but not as easily as convicts), if you give them plenty of room. You need a male and a female at least five inches long. Provide some flat areas for them to spawn on. Give the female some extra cover in case she?s not quite as ready as he is. They care for the eggs and care for the fry very nicely. If you used a dither fish during the bonding process get it out once you see their eggs or fry. No plecos, of course. They eat the eggs at night.
Fry Care. The diligent parents fan the eggs. Once they hatch, they may move them to hide them from you. Start feeding the fry when they start swimming. Since they lay huge quantities of eggs (500+ and up, way up), you will need huge quantities of fry food and lots of room.
In Conclusion. These guys are ferocious and need lots of room. If you like to keep predators these are your guys. Mine?s got too big so I had to give the up.
Special thanks to LA for the profile.
Cichlasoma managuense
Jaguar Cichlid Facts
Origin Nicaragua and Central American environs
Maximum Size Males 16 inches. Females 14 inches.
Sexing Males larger, more colorful, longer finned
Housing Bigger the better
Security Not a hider but needs space
Temperature Prefers 75 to 80
Attitude Aggressive and hungry
Breeding Like the Dempsey
Foods Not picky
Water Not picky
Origins: As the managuense name implies, these guys originally came from Nicaragua (capitol city Managua). Many of the ones we see these days come from local breeders and fish farms.
Name Origin: The ?jaguar? in their common name refers to their spotted body patterns somewhat like the fur-bearing jaguars. These spots and/or blotches vary considerably.
Filtration: You cannot over filter your managuense.
Water Conditions: Jaguars readily adapt to a wide variety of water conditions. They color best when kept in clean water. Frequent water changes help brings out the violet sheen that makes them such knockouts at maturity.
Appeal: Besides looking pretty, these guys eat like there?s no tomorrow. They hit goldfish like a bass hitting a plug. Most fans like them because of their huge appetites. Others like the way they look. In a way, they resemble our black crappies. Pretty Size: Adults easily exceed a foot when kept in large aquaria. They grow larger than Oscars if given 50 gallons of water per fish. Frequent water changes help them grow.
Jumpers: For some strange reason Jaguars like to bail. You?d expect them to jump if kept with other biters and fighters. However, jaguars bail even when kept alone. Keep them tightly covered or expect to find them on the floor. A layer of duckweed on the top decreases their jumping activity. A well-secured cover works even better.
Tank Mates: Looking for a mixer with other large cichlids? Mix your jaguars with other large, rowdy cichlids. Remember that big fish eat smaller fish. And if they can?t swallow them, big fish beat little fish.
Foods: Feeding jaguars presents no problem. They love goldfish, crayfish, and night crawlers. They eagerly eat frozen plankton and krill. Ditto the freeze-dried ones. They also eat pellets. Give them pellets with carotenes to bring out their color.
Gravel Choice: Darker gravels will darken your jaguar cichlids. Light gravels bleach them out. Darker gravels also brings out that purple/violet (or whatever color) sheen.
Plants: Like all large cichlids, jaguars will rip up live plants. They also uproot plastic plants. If you use plastic plants, glue gravel onto their bases to keep them from floating. Glue on the gravel with aquarium sealer. Use the same color as your other gravel and your plants will always look planted.
Breeding. You can breed jaguars fairly easily (but not as easily as convicts), if you give them plenty of room. You need a male and a female at least five inches long. Provide some flat areas for them to spawn on. Give the female some extra cover in case she?s not quite as ready as he is. They care for the eggs and care for the fry very nicely. If you used a dither fish during the bonding process get it out once you see their eggs or fry. No plecos, of course. They eat the eggs at night.
Fry Care. The diligent parents fan the eggs. Once they hatch, they may move them to hide them from you. Start feeding the fry when they start swimming. Since they lay huge quantities of eggs (500+ and up, way up), you will need huge quantities of fry food and lots of room.
In Conclusion. These guys are ferocious and need lots of room. If you like to keep predators these are your guys. Mine?s got too big so I had to give the up.
Special thanks to LA for the profile.