Remarks: Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlids (Dicrossus maculatus) prefer very soft and acidic conditions and require them to reproduce successfully. They are perfect for blackwater community tanks with sandy substrates, small characins acting as dithers, and plenty of cover in the form of plants, driftwood, and leaf litter. Males have longer, more colorful fins than females.

Scientific Name: Dicrossus maculatus

Common Name: Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid

Max Size: 4"

pH: 5.0-7.0

Hardness: Soft

Temperature: 72-82°

Aggressiveness: Semi-Aggressive

Region of Origin: South America

Captive Bred or Wild: Wild

Diet: Flake or pellet