Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus foirni)
A tiny, jewel-patterned dwarf cichlid from blackwater Amazonia — its unique three rows of dark spots set it apart from every other checkerboard.
Will it live with a Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your rio negro checkerboard cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Agassiz's Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Badis✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Bamboo Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Blackline Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Blackline Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Corydoras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Costa's Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Costa's Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Croaking Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Diamond Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Gourami✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Peacock Gudgeon✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Peppered Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Splashing Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Splashing Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sterbai Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–29 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Sterbai Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- African Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Amazon Puffer⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Amazon Puffer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bleeding Heart Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bolivian Ram⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 0–4 vs Bolivian Ram 5–12 dGH).
- Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bright Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 5–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Buenos Aires Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Celebes Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 4–6.5 vs Celebes Rainbowfish 7–8.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 10–20 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Celebes Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Colombian Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~114 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Colombian Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7.5 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 5–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Gold Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Mahachai Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 0–4 vs Mahachai Betta 5–20 dGH).
- Melon Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Melon Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rounded Filament Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Roundtail Paradise Fish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 10–26 °C (50–79 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 0–4 vs Roundtail Paradise Fish 5–20 dGH).
- Sumo Loach⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 5–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Tiger Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 0–4 vs Tiger Barb 5–19 dGH).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~95 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Tiger Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid whole.
- pH preferences only just meet (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 4–6.5 vs Alligator Gar 6.8–7.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 7 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid as food.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 0–4 vs Clown Knifefish 5–15 dGH).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid whole.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 0–4 vs Fire Eel 5–15 dGH).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid whole.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 0–4 vs Koi 9–18 dGH).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 7 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid as food.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 5–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Size gap is too large (72 vs 7 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid as food.
- Different pH ranges (4–6.5 vs 7–8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid 0–4 vs Wolf Cichlid 8–20 dGH).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid care specs
- Care level
- Hard
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 7 cm (2.8 in)
- Min tank size
- 60 L (15.9 gal)
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- pH
- 4–6.5
- Hardness
- 0–4 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- 4+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Brazil — Rio Marauiá and Rio Padauari, northern tributaries of the Rio Negro, Amazon basin
What is the Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid?
The Rio Negro checkerboard cichlid (Dicrossus foirni) is a rare dwarf cichlid formally described in 2015 from the northern tributaries of the Rio Negro in Brazil. Males reach 7 cm (2.75 in) and develop a dramatic lyre-shaped caudal fin with red-orange edging; females top out around 4.5 cm (1.75 in) with a plain rounded tail. Both sexes carry three longitudinal rows of alternating dark grey-to-black spots along silver-beige flanks — one more row than any other checkerboard cichlid, hence the trade nickname “triple-row.” This is not a beginner fish: success depends entirely on replicating its extreme blackwater chemistry, and only keepers who can do so reliably should attempt it.
Where does the Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid come from?
D. foirni is endemic to the Rio Marauiá and Rio Padauari, two northern tributaries of the Rio Negro in Amazonas state, Brazil. These are classic blackwater streams — tannin-stained to dark amber, nearly devoid of dissolved minerals, and strongly acidic, with pH commonly sitting between 4.0 and 5.5. Water temperature ranges from 24 to 29 °C (75–84 °F). The fish live close to the substrate among leaf litter, submerged roots, and stream debris. Understanding this habitat is essential: keeping D. foirni in moderately hard or alkaline water will chronically stress the fish even when other parameters look acceptable.
What tank setup does the Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid need?
A 60 L (16 gal) footprint-focused tank is the minimum for a group of four or more; longer and wider beats taller for a bottom-dweller. The aquascape should prioritise the fish’s comfort: dark fine sand or leaf litter substrate, Indian almond or oak leaves releasing tannins across the bottom, bogwood for shelter and additional tannin release, and dim lighting from floating plants or a dense canopy. Filtration should produce gentle flow only — a sponge filter or baffled HOB is ideal. Strong current is stressful and unnatural. Avoid bright open areas and bare bottoms; a richly decorated, tannin-rich setup keeps the fish settled and in full colour.
What water parameters does the Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid need?
- Temperature: 24–29 °C (75–84 °F); 26–27 °C as a daily target.
- pH: 4.0–6.5. In practice 4.5–5.5 is closest to wild conditions; pH above 6.5 causes chronic stress.
- Hardness: 0–4 dGH — effectively zero mineral content.
Tap water is almost never suitable. Use RO or rain water conditioned with peat filtration, Indian almond leaf extract, or commercial blackwater additives. Because very soft water has minimal buffering capacity, pH can drift between water changes, so test frequently and maintain a consistent routine. Stability matters as much as hitting the right numbers.
What do Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlids eat?
This species is a carnivore that in the wild feeds on tiny invertebrates among leaf litter — copepods, microcrustaceans, and small insect larvae. In the aquarium:
- Staple: daphnia, cyclops, baby brine shrimp, micro-worms, and Grindal worms. Live or frozen both work.
- Occasional: small frozen bloodworms as a treat, not the primary diet.
- Dry food: rarely accepted as a staple; small-grade micropellets may be taken by some individuals but should be supplementary only.
Feed small amounts two to three times daily, clearing any uneaten food promptly. In very soft, low-pH water, decomposing food degrades water quality faster than in a buffered community tank.
Are Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlids peaceful — and what can live with them?
D. foirni is peaceful by cichlid standards. Males display toward each other but rarely cause serious injury in a well-decorated tank. The binding constraint on tankmates is water chemistry, not temperament. The only fish suited to pH 4–6.5 and near-zero hardness include:
- Cardinal tetras (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — the classic Rio Negro companion
- Dwarf pencilfish (Nannostomus spp. from blackwater habitats)
- Small blackwater loricariids such as otocinclus
Avoid any species requiring neutral to alkaline water, hardness, or salt additions. Most invertebrates cannot survive the very low pH this species demands.
For a full compatible species list see Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlids?
Sexing mature adults is straightforward. Males reach the full 7 cm (2.75 in) and develop the signature lyre-shaped caudal fin — elongated upper and lower rays with vivid red-orange edging — and more saturated overall coloration. Females stay around 4.5 cm (1.75 in), have a rounded unmarked caudal fin, and carry a noticeably deeper, rounder belly especially when gravid. Some females show a faint pinkish or yellowish flush to the ventral area when in spawning condition. Juveniles are difficult to sex until around 2–3 cm, after which fin shape begins to differentiate.
How do Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlids breed?
Breeding is rated hard — not because the fish are reluctant, but because spawning requires even tighter water conditions than routine maintenance, and raising fry is demanding. Raise temperature to 27–29 °C (81–84 °F) and feed heavily on live foods to condition the pair. A small water change with slightly cooler, ultra-soft water can trigger spawning.
The female selects and cleans a flat surface — a broad leaf, flat driftwood, or slate — and deposits a small clutch (typically 30–80 eggs). She takes primary responsibility for guarding and fanning eggs; the male patrols the wider territory. Eggs hatch in roughly 2–3 days at 27 °C, with fry becoming free-swimming after another 4–5 days. First foods must be infusoria or rotifers before graduating to freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii. Maintain fry-tank parameters identical to the breeding tank throughout.
What diseases affect Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlids?
D. foirni is not especially disease-prone in correct water, but their sensitivity to any parameter deviation means problems escalate quickly:
- Velvet (Oodinium): spreads fast in stressed fish; prevent with strict quarantine and stable water.
- Ich (white spot): less common at very low pH but can appear after temperature crashes or during transport stress.
- Bacterial fin deterioration: almost always secondary to incorrect water chemistry — fix the water first.
- Internal parasites: wild-caught imports commonly carry them; quarantine all new arrivals for at least four weeks.
A fish chronically kept above pH 6.5 or in hard water is immunocompromised and will succumb to pathogens a healthy specimen would resist.
Health note: medication dosing and disease diagnosis are outside the scope of a species care profile. Many common fish medications are formulated for neutral to alkaline water and may behave differently — or add additional stress — at pH 4–5. Consult a reputable aquatic health source or fish-experienced veterinarian before medicating.
How long do Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlids live?
A well-maintained D. foirni lives 3–5 years. Lifespan in this species is a reliable indicator of husbandry quality: fish kept in incorrect water often decline well before three years, while those in properly maintained blackwater regularly reach the top of that range. Because many specimens in the hobby are wild-caught, they may already be adult at purchase. Get the water right from day one — there is no settling-in period with this species — and the reward is one of the most visually distinctive dwarf cichlids available to the specialist keeper.
Frequently asked questions
How is Dicrossus foirni different from the common checkerboard cichlid?
The most visible difference is the lateral pattern. The familiar checkerboard cichlid (Dicrossus filamentosus) has two rows of large dark blotches, while D. foirni has three rows of smaller, alternating spots — a distinction visible at a glance. D. foirni also comes exclusively from soft, very acidic Rio Negro blackwater, making it even more demanding on water chemistry.
Can Rio Negro checkerboard cichlids be kept in a community tank?
Only in a very specialised one. Their water requirements — pH 4–6.5, near-zero hardness, warm blackwater — are incompatible with most community fish. Suitable companions include small Rio Negro tetras (such as cardinal tetras, kept at the same pH), dwarf pencilfish, and other blackwater-specialist species. Avoid hard-water or alkaline-tolerant fish entirely.
What you need to keep a rio negro checkerboard cichlid
The baseline is a heated, filtered 60 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 24–29 °C (75–84 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a rio negro checkerboard cichlid in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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