The
cichlids of the genus Cichla are the largest cichlids in South America
and they are regarded as the best food fish at all there. The maximum
size recorded for Cichla is around 75 cm, but usually they attain a
length between 25 and 40 cm. These fish have been kept in aquaria only
very rarely formerly, because they were said to be very sensitive
against transportation. However, nowadays this is no real problem
anymore.
Determination
of species within Cichla was almost impossible until 2006; only very
few species were accepted, but a lot more phenotypes existed. Currently
this is not that difficult anymore thanks due to a revision of the genus
made by Kullander & Ferreira in 2006. But still the juveniles –
these look totally different to the adults and are very similar in the
different species – are tricky to tell apart.
Breeders
in Southeast Asia offer already bred specimens. All these fish are
named “Cichla sp. temensis” by the breeders. However, they belong to at
least two different species. The fish we obtained from Thailand are most
likely Cichla monoculus, while those from Singapore seem really to
belong to C. temensis. But we have decided now to grow some specimens to
find out what they really will become.
For our customers: the fish have code 637003 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
