Cuban cichlid
Nandopsis tetracanthus
- Adult size
- 20 cm8 in
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 120 cmabout 4 ft (47 in)
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C72–81 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
A hard-water Central American-type cichlid that becomes very territorial when breeding; plan a large tank with rock and only robust tankmates.A hard-water Central American-type cichlid that becomes very territorial when breeding; plan a large tank with rock and only robust tankmates.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Cuban cichlidAlligator gar may eat Cuban cichlid
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Cuban cichlidArapaima may eat Cuban cichlid
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Cuban cichlidAsian arowana may eat Cuban cichlid
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Cuban cichlidBullseye snakehead may eat Cuban cichlid
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Clown knifefish
Clown knifefish may eat Cuban cichlidClown knifefish may eat Cuban cichlid
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Cuban cichlidCuban gar may eat Cuban cichlid
DiscusNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Cuban cichlidDourada may eat Cuban cichlid
- Fire eel
Fire eel may eat Cuban cichlidFire eel may eat Cuban cichlid
- Florida gar
Florida gar may eat Cuban cichlidFlorida gar may eat Cuban cichlid
- Giant wolf fish
Giant wolf fish may eat Cuban cichlidGiant wolf fish may eat Cuban cichlid
Sources
| temperature | 22–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 5.5–7.8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Cuba and Isla de la Juventud | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A hard-water Central American-type cichlid that becomes very territorial when br | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #E8E4D0, #1A1A1A | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.025,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 120 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | cichlid | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |