Festive Cichlid Mesonauta festivus/mirificus

The Festive Cichlid, also called Flag Cichlid, is native to the Amazon River Basin. Formerly considered one species, it is now six; the two shown here native to the western Amazon in Peru and Colombia (M. mirificus) and southwestern Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay (M. festivus).

They favour slow-moving, black (tannin-stained) waters with plants where their banding gives camouflage. They can jump out of the water and hide in plants to evade predators.

The bars on their side darken when the fish is stressed or excited and can disappear at other times.

They can reach a length of up to 12cm. Diet includes plants and small invertebrates.

They live in loose schools to avoid predators. They break away in pairs to breed and rejoin after raising young.