Cuban Cichlid (Nandopsis tetracanthus)

Choose the Cuban Cichlid for a robust Central American set-up

The Cuban Cichlid (Nandopsis tetracanthus) is a bold, meat-eating cichlid from Cuba, where it is known as the biajaca. It is one of very few cichlids from the Caribbean islands and, at around 20 cm, one of the more manageable predatory cichlids from the region. FishBase records a maximum of 20 cm standard length, and Practical Fishkeeping describes typical females at around 13 cm with males a little bigger. For a keeper with a 120 cm aquarium and hard water, it is a hardy, characterful fish with a strong pattern.

FishBase records it from fast-flowing rivers and from lakes, often among plants, and also from brackish river mouths. Practical Fishkeeping gives its range as endemic to Cuba, with specimens also collected from Barbados, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Check the names on the label

Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes records that Achille Valenciennes described the fish in 1831 as Centrarchus tetracanthus, from Havana, based on a drawing rather than a preserved specimen. Several later names, including Acara adspersa from Barbados and a set of Heros names published in 1903 from localities across Cuba, are now treated as the same species. The name tetracanthus means "four-spined", and Říčan and colleagues (2016) list a reduced count of four anal-fin spines among the features of the genus.

Říčan and colleagues define Nandopsis as three living species, N. tetracanthus, N. haitiensis and N. ramsdeni, plus one fossil, found only in the Greater Antilles on Cuba and Hispaniola. Its closest relative on our list is the Haitian Cichlid. Browse our South American cichlids, the American cichlids directory, the Central American cichlids page and the cichlids formerly in Cichlasoma to compare it with other cichlids from the region.

Know exactly what you receive

One purchase supplies one live Cuban Cichlid. The size option is "Standard": the fish is sent at the size currently available, which is a young fish well below adult size. Sex is not chosen or guaranteed.

The photographs show the type of fish, not the individual you will receive. They show the barred pattern of a young fish: an olive-gold body crossed by dark vertical bars, with turquoise speckling on the cheek and gill cover. Říčan and colleagues explain that in adult Nandopsis these bars dissolve into an irregular pattern of dark blotches on a pale background, and that the bars become dominant again mainly in breeding colour. Expect your fish to change as it grows.

Decide on one fish, a pair or a group

• One fish: simple, and suits a robust community of larger cichlids.
• A pair: Practical Fishkeeping recommends keeping it as a sexed pair in a species aquarium of about 120 cm.
• Growing on a group: unless you can buy a proven pair, Practical Fishkeeping advises buying several young fish, growing them on until a pair forms, then finding new homes for the others. Only do this if you have the space and a plan for the surplus fish.

Before you order, read our delivery information and make sure the aquarium has matured and is at temperature.

Plan the aquarium around a 20 cm adult

FishBase gives a maximum of 20 cm standard length, which excludes the tail, and Practical Fishkeeping gives up to 20 cm. Practical Fishkeeping recommends a species aquarium of around 120 cm for a pair, and OATA recommends at least 300 litres for American cichlids over 15 cm. Both figures point the same way: plan an aquarium at least 120 cm long holding at least 300 litres. A 120 × 50 × 50 cm aquarium, for example, holds about 300 litres before décor.

Run a three-step space check

1. Length: at least 120 cm, more if other large cichlids will share the aquarium.
2. Volume: enter your measurements in our tank volume calculator and confirm at least 300 litres.
3. Territories: count how many fish will each want a cave or corner, and make sure the layout gives every one its own.

OATA advises keeping the aquarium away from draughts, heat sources and direct sunlight, with a heater to hold the temperature all year. Fit a heater guard and a secure lid, and stand the aquarium on a cabinet rated for its full weight.

Build cover and territories

Practical Fishkeeping notes that Cuban cichlids mix well with other robust cichlids if they have plenty of room and places to shelter from more dominant fish. FishBase records it among plants in fast rivers and lakes. Design the aquarium around solid rock, wood and tough plants, with clear boundaries between territories and open water in front.

Divide the layout by function

OATA recommends sand or fine gravel for American cichlids because many dig, and warns that they may uproot plants. Fix rocks firmly on the glass before adding sand, and choose sturdy plants such as those that grow on wood, or artificial ones. More hiding places than fish is a good rule: a subordinate fish with nowhere to go is the one that gets hurt.

Give it hard, alkaline fresh water

FishBase gives 24–30°C and records the species in both fresh and brackish water. Practical Fishkeeping's author notes there is no need to add salt and that he kept the species in hard, alkaline fresh water for years without problems. OATA's general range for American cichlids is 22–27°C and pH 6.5–8.0, so we suggest 24–27°C and pH 7.0–8.0 in moderately hard to hard water.

Keep these readings

Much of southern and eastern England has hard, alkaline tap water that suits this fish once it is conditioned. In soft-water areas, raise hardness gradually with a buffering substrate or rock rather than with sudden chemical doses. Enter your tap-water readings in our water matcher, and read the water chemistry guide and our pH guide for tropical fish to understand how the readings fit together.

Filter for a meat eater

Meaty foods produce a heavy waste load, so filtration has to be generous. Seriously Fish's species profiles size filters at four to five times the tank volume per hour; for a 300-litre aquarium that is about 1,200–1,500 litres per hour. FishBase records the species in fast rivers as well as lakes, so a moderate current is welcome, but leave sheltered corners out of the flow.

Follow a weekly maintenance sequence

1. Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before any work.
2. Change at least 25% of the water, as OATA recommends, with conditioned water at the same temperature.
3. Siphon the substrate, especially near caves where food scraps collect.
4. Check the filter flow and clear the intake.
5. Rinse media only in water taken from the aquarium.

Our article filtration explained covers how to choose a filter big enough for a large cichlid.

Feed shrimp, worms and good pellets

FishBase lists worms, small fish, shrimps and water insects as its wild food, and Practical Fishkeeping adds that stomach analyses of wild fish found livebearers and gobies among the small fishes eaten. In the aquarium, Practical Fishkeeping's author fed good-quality cichlid pellets, whole shrimp and earthworms.

Build one measured meal

• Staple: a meat-based cichlid pellet such as Tropical Cichlid Carnivore Small Pellet for young fish, moving to Tropical Cichlid Carnivore Medium Pellet as it grows.
• Frozen foods: Cichlid Mix frozen food and frozen shrimp meat, thawed before feeding.
• Treat: live earthworms, chopped to a size the fish can swallow.
• Never: live feeder fish, which can bring disease into the aquarium.

OATA advises feeding American cichlids only what they eat within a few minutes, once a day, and warns that they can eat large amounts at once. A cichlid that always looks hungry is not underfed; keep portions small and remove leftovers.

Introduce it to a mature aquarium

Add the fish only to an aquarium whose filter has matured, with ammonia and nitrite at zero. If the aquarium is new, our article on cycling a new aquarium explains how to prepare it.

OATA's floating-bag method: lights off, float the sealed bag for about 10 minutes, add small amounts of aquarium water over up to 20 minutes, then release the fish with as little bag water as possible. Our acclimatisation guide covers every step. If other cichlids are already in the aquarium, rearrange the rocks just before adding the newcomer so that old territories are broken up.

Use a first-week checkpoint plan

Choose tank mates that can stand up for themselves

Practical Fishkeeping describes the Cuban cichlid as moderately aggressive for its size. Given plenty of room and places to shelter from more dominant fish, it mixes well with other robust Central American cichlids such as Vieja. OATA adds that the more aggressive American cichlids must be kept alone or with equally robust fish, and all of them defend territory hard when breeding.

Screen each companion

Following Practical Fishkeeping's advice, the Redhead Quetzal Cichlid and the Black Belt Cichlid are the Vieja on our list. Both grow larger than the Cuban cichlid, 350 mm and 254 mm standard length respectively according to Seriously Fish, so they need a much bigger aquarium than 120 cm. Practical Fishkeeping notes a strong resemblance to the Jaguar Cichlid and calls the Cuban cichlid one of the smaller guapotes, the group of predatory cichlids the jaguar belongs to; the jaguar grows far larger and is a separate choice, not a companion for a 120 cm tank. Check any mix with our tank mates tool, and see our cichlid care guide and Jack Dempsey guide for how we plan other medium-sized Central American cichlids.

Watch for problems early

OATA lists the signs of a healthy fish as clear, bright eyes, undamaged fins, intact scales, no ulcers or bumps, normal swimming and steady breathing. Warning signs include clamped fins, flicking against décor, shimmying, hiding more than usual and loss of appetite.

Pair each sign with an action

Most health problems in large cichlids start with water quality, so keep a record of test results and act on the first change you see.

Breeding notes

Practical Fishkeeping records that wild Cuban cichlids spawn between April and June in weedy areas of fast-flowing rivers and lakes, and that aquarium spawnings are not very common because few people keep the species. OATA notes that American cichlids lay eggs on a cleaned surface and guard their young until the fry are free-swimming, and that their aggression when breeding calls for a dedicated set-up.

Prepare for a pair

1. Start with a pair or a group: buy a proven pair, or grow on several young fish as Practical Fishkeeping suggests.
2. Give them space: a species aquarium of at least 120 cm and 300 litres.
3. Offer flat stones and caves: places the pair can clean and defend.
4. Plan for the surplus: have a second aquarium or new homes ready for the fish that do not pair, and for any fry.

Answer Cuban Cichlid buying questions

What is a Cuban Cichlid?

It is Nandopsis tetracanthus (Valenciennes, 1831), a medium-large predatory cichlid from Cuba, known there as the biajaca. It is one of only three living species in Nandopsis, the cichlid genus of the Greater Antilles.

How big does a Cuban Cichlid grow?

FishBase records a maximum of 20 cm standard length. Practical Fishkeeping gives up to 20 cm, with typical females around 13 cm and males a little bigger.

What size aquarium does it need?

Practical Fishkeeping recommends a species aquarium of around 120 cm for a pair, and OATA recommends at least 300 litres for American cichlids over 15 cm. A 120 × 50 × 50 cm aquarium meets both and holds about 300 litres.

Does a Cuban Cichlid need salt or brackish water?

No. It is found in both fresh water and brackish river mouths in the wild, but Practical Fishkeeping's author kept it for years in hard, alkaline fresh water without salt.

What does it eat?

Wild fish eat shrimps, worms, aquatic insects and small fish. In the aquarium feed good cichlid pellets with whole shrimp, earthworms and frozen foods. Do not feed live fish.

Is the Cuban Cichlid aggressive?

Practical Fishkeeping describes it as moderately aggressive for its size. With plenty of room and shelter it can live with robust Central American cichlids such as Vieja, but never with small fish.

Why does my Cuban Cichlid look different from the photo?

The pattern changes with age and mood. Young fish show dark vertical bars, while adults usually show irregular dark blotches on a pale background, with the bars returning mainly in breeding colour.

How many fish come with one purchase?

One live Cuban Cichlid of the standard size currently available. It is a young fish and is not sexed.

Consult the care references

• FishBase: Nandopsis tetracanthus — accepted name, biajaca name, maximum length, temperature, fresh and brackish habitats, wild diet and conservation status.
• Practical Fishkeeping: Nandopsis (Cichlasoma) tetracanthus — size, water, diet, temperament, aquarium size, pairing, breeding season and identification.
• Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: Nandopsis tetracanthus — original name Centrarchus tetracanthus, its Havana type locality and the synonyms described from Cuba and Barbados.
• Říčan et al. 2016, Vertebrate Zoology 66(1): 1–102 — current classification of Middle American cichlids, genus definitions, distributions and feeding types.
• Seriously Fish: genus Vieja (tank-mate sizes) — sizes, aquarium bases, water values and temperaments of Vieja species, used for comparison.
• OATA: How to look after American cichlids — UK guidance on American cichlid water quality, aquarium size, décor, feeding, introduction and health checks.
• Tropical Fish Co delivery policy — current dispatch days and Live Arrival Guarantee terms.