Lyretail Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus filamentosus) is a slender, copper-toned South American dwarf cichlid marked with two rows of crisp, square black blotches in a true checkerboard pattern. Males carry the signature feature that gives the species its name: a lyre-shaped tail with long filamentous extensions on the top and bottom edges, set against a pattern that can flush with striking iridescent color when they are comfortable and courting.
Feeding & Care Tip: Hikari Micro Pellets and Sera Vipan Baby make excellent daily staples once settled in. Supplement 3–4× per week with Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp and Hikari Frozen Daphnia to encourage feeding and bring out color. Feed small amounts 2–3 times daily; these shy fish eat best when not competing with boisterous tank mates.
Native to blackwater and clearwater forest streams of the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro drainages in Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, where they live among leaf litter, roots and branches. Recreate that with dark sand, scattered leaf litter such as Indian almond leaves, driftwood, caves or coconut shells, and dim to moderate lighting. Soft, acidic, well-oxygenated water kept spotless with regular water changes is the key to long-term health and color.
Peaceful and shy, they are best kept as a small harem of one male with two or three females in a quiet planted aquarium of at least 20 gallons (long), alongside calm tankmates such as small tetras, rasboras, corydoras and Apistogramma. Males are larger and more colorful with the lyre tail; females are smaller with a rounded tail. Cave and flat-surface spawners, with the female guarding the eggs and young. Wild-caught fish are best acclimated slowly.
A rewarding and rarely offered dwarf cichlid for the aquascaper who wants something truly distinctive.
| Difficulty | Moderate — Advanced (wild-caught; needs soft, acidic water) |
| Temperament | Peaceful — shy; best with calm tank mates |
| Typical Adult Size | Males up to 3.5 inches (9 cm); females about 2.25 inches (6 cm) |
| Min. Group Size | 1 male with 2–3 females |
| Ideal Temp | 78–84°F (26–29°C) |
| Ideal pH | 4.5–6.5 |
| Ideal GH | 1–5 dGH |
| Ideal KH | 0–3 dKH |
| Staple Food | Hikari Micro Pellets; Sera Vipan Baby |
| Treat / Supplement | Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp; Hikari Frozen Daphnia |
| Origin | Upper Orinoco and Rio Negro drainages, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil (wild-caught) |
| Notes | Checkerboard pattern of square black blotches. Males have a lyre-shaped tail with filaments; females have a rounded tail. Prefers dim light, leaf litter and very soft water. Best in a long, quiet planted tank. |
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