{"product_id":"lyretail-checkerboard-cichlid","title":"Lyretail Checkerboard Cichlid","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:1.4em;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0.08em;color:#0a2a3a;border-bottom:2px solid #3a7ca5;padding-bottom:8px;margin-bottom:18px;text-transform:uppercase;\"\u003eLyretail Checkerboard Cichlid\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:1.05em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:16px;color:#2c2c2c;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLyretail Checkerboard Cichlid\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eDicrossus filamentosus\u003c\/em\u003e) 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:1.05em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:16px;background-color:#e0f0f8;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;padding:14px 18px;color:#0a2a3a;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding \u0026amp; Care Tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Micro Pellets\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eSera Vipan Baby\u003c\/strong\u003e make excellent daily staples once settled in. Supplement 3–4× per week with \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Frozen Daphnia\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:1.05em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:16px;color:#2c2c2c;\"\u003eNative 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:1.05em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:16px;color:#2c2c2c;\"\u003ePeaceful 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:1.05em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:24px;color:#2c2c2c;\"\u003eA rewarding and rarely offered dwarf cichlid for the aquascaper who wants something truly distinctive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#0a2a3a;border-top:1px solid #b0d0e8;padding-top:18px;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eCare \u0026amp; Ideal Parameters\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:0.92em;\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eModerate — Advanced (wild-caught; needs soft, acidic water)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003ePeaceful — shy; best with calm tank mates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eTypical Adult Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eMales up to 3.5 inches (9 cm); females about 2.25 inches (6 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eMin. Group Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e1 male with 2–3 females\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eIdeal Temp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e78–84°F (26–29°C)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eIdeal pH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e4.5–6.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eIdeal GH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e1–5 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eIdeal KH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e0–3 dKH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eStaple Food\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eHikari Micro Pellets; Sera Vipan Baby\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eTreat \/ Supplement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp; Hikari Frozen Daphnia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#e0f0f8;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eUpper Orinoco and Rio Negro drainages, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil (wild-caught)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#0a2a3a;font-weight:600;width:38%;border:1px solid #b0d0e8; vertical-align:top;\"\u003eNotes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 14px;background-color:#ffffff;color:#2c2c2c;border:1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eCheckerboard 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.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Cuboid Aquatics LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53554428805431,"sku":"CA2907","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/cuboidstore.com\/products\/lyretail-checkerboard-cichlid","provider":"Cuboid Aquatics LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}