−11%
Moderate
Agassiz' Dwarf Cichlid double red (Apistogramma agassizi double red)
24–28°C · pH 5.5–7 · 60L
£13.34£14.99
Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus maculatus), supplied as one unsexed 1-2 cm juvenile for mature, very soft, acidic aquariums.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Dicrossus maculatus
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus maculatus), supplied as one unsexed 1-2 cm juvenile for mature, very soft, acidic aquariums.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus maculatus) is a small, specialist South American dwarf cichlid for a mature aquarium with soft, acidic water. Its broken rows of dark flank markings give the checkerboard effect, while adult males can develop more elaborate fins and colour than juveniles. This is the spadetail species, not the more frequently encountered lyretail Checkerboard Cichlid, Dicrossus filamentosus.
One quantity buys one unsexed juvenile at approximately 1-2 cm. Fish at this size are still developing, cannot be reliably sexed and will not yet show full adult colour or finnage. We do not promise a male, female or bonded pair. Choose this fish only if you can maintain stable soft water, low waste levels, subdued conditions and a calm feeding environment.
Dicrossus maculatus is peaceful toward suitable community fish but becomes territorial around breeding sites, particularly as males mature. A thoughtful long-term stocking plan matters more than treating it as a generic nano cichlid. Explore our South American dwarf cichlids collection for related soft-water species.
| Scientific name | Dicrossus maculatus (Steindachner, 1875) |
|---|---|
| Common names | Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid; Spade-tailed Checkerboard Cichlid |
| What you receive | One unsexed juvenile |
| Dispatch size | Approximately 1-2 cm |
| Adult size | About 5-6 cm standard length; fins and tail add to the visible total length |
| Origin | Lower Amazon basin in Brazil, including the Tapajos and Maues drainages and the Parintins area |
| Care level | Advanced soft-water care |
| Practical temperature target | 24-26 C, kept stable |
| pH guidance | Acidic, approximately 4.8-6.5; hardness and stability also matter |
| Hardness | Very soft to soft water |
| Temperament | Peaceful with suitable fish; territorial when breeding and between mature males |
| Juvenile social plan | Start with a group of at least 8 in a suitably large aquarium, then plan for compatible adult pairs and separation of surplus males |
| Diet | Small live and frozen invertebrate foods; fine prepared foods if accepted |
| Tank region | Lower to middle levels, often close to cover and substrate |
Dicrossus maculatus is a valid member of the cichlid family from the Brazilian Amazon basin. FishBase records it from the Tapajos drainage, the Maues River and near Parintins. It is assessed as Least Concern globally, although responsible sourcing and accurate species identification still matter.
The common name Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid helps separate this fish from D. filamentosus. Juvenile D. maculatus can look comparatively plain and slender. Their markings, body depth and fin shape change as they mature, and stress or social status can temporarily mute the pattern. The fish received at 1-2 cm should not be expected to resemble a fully coloured adult immediately.
Footprint and territorial structure are more useful than a small headline litre figure. For an adult pair, plan around a mature aquarium approximately 100 cm long with several separated shelter areas. Use a larger footprint if retaining a juvenile group or more than one adult male. A cramped aquarium with one central cave gives maturing fish nowhere to avoid each other.
Start with a group of at least eight juveniles, and preferably more, in an aquarium large enough for the whole group. Juveniles are gregarious and may shoal, but buying two young fish does not create a guaranteed pair. This listing sells one fish per quantity, so select the number only after planning the full juvenile group, filtration and floor space.
Sex is difficult to establish at the supplied size. As males approach maturity and claim separate territories, the long-term aim is to identify a compatible pair and separate or rehome surplus males and incompatible fish. Provide enough space and broken sight lines from the beginning; do not expect a juvenile group to remain socially unchanged as adults.
Use a biologically mature aquarium with fine sand, driftwood, roots, smooth shelters and broken sight lines. Leaf litter can provide cover and foraging surfaces, while floating plants or overhanging growth help diffuse bright light. Leave some open sand between sheltered areas so the fish can feed without being forced into another individual's territory.
Filtration should be efficient without creating a harsh current across the whole aquarium. Keep at least one calm lower-water zone, but maintain good oxygen exchange and avoid stagnant debris traps. Cover the aquarium securely because startled checkerboard cichlids can jump. Do not add these small juveniles to a newly cycled tank or one with unstable pH.
The species occurs in Amazonian rivers and acidic habitats, but it should not be reduced to a generic "blackwater fish" label. A clean, soft, acidic setup with stable chemistry is the priority. Botanicals are useful only when the aquarist understands their effect and can keep water quality consistent.
FishBase records a wild range around 22-25 C and pH 4.8-6.0, while established aquarium references sometimes maintain the species slightly warmer and up to about pH 6.5-6.8. A stable 24-26 C and acidic pH 4.8-6.5 is a cautious practical target for this listing. Match the aquarium gradually and avoid sudden movement toward either edge of the range.
Very soft to soft water is more important than chasing pH with chemicals. Hard, strongly buffered tap water can keep rebounding after adjustment and is unsuitable for a fish adapted to low-mineral conditions. Use an appropriate source-water plan, test consistently and match temperature and chemistry during water changes.
Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero and nitrate low through restrained feeding, good biological filtration and regular partial water changes. Smaller, well-matched changes are safer than occasional large swings. Stable clean water supports appetite, colour and breeding behaviour; unstable chemistry can cause these juveniles to decline before obvious symptoms appear.
Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlids feed on small animal prey and microfoods. Offer suitably sized live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, small mosquito larvae and finely chopped soft invertebrate foods. Fine sinking micro pellets or crushed cichlid granules may be accepted after settling, but do not assume every new arrival will recognise dry food immediately.
Feed small portions once or twice daily and watch each fish eat. In a community, fast surface feeders can consume everything before food reaches the lower levels. Distribute food across sheltered feeding points or use a pipette to place thawed food near the fish. Remove uneaten food promptly because decaying food is especially harmful in warm, low-mineral water.
Variety is more useful than relying on one favourite frozen food. Rotate appropriate prey sizes and introduce prepared food gradually. A juvenile with a pinched belly, repeated food refusal or poor balance needs prompt investigation rather than larger meals that pollute the aquarium.
Outside breeding, D. maculatus is usually calm with fish that share its water requirements. Good companions are small, non-aggressive mid-water species that do not monopolise food, including suitable pencilfish, hatchetfish and soft-water tetras. A settled group of Cardinal Tetras can provide open-water movement, but the aquarium must be large enough for both species and maintained within their shared range.
Bottom-dwelling catfish may overlap with checkerboard territories, particularly during spawning. Corydoras and Otocinclus are not automatically incompatible, but they need enough floor space, shelter and food, and they may be chased from a breeding site. Monitor behaviour rather than relying on a universal compatibility list.
Avoid aggressive cichlids, persistent fin-nippers, large predators, hard-water livebearers and boisterous feeders. Do not assume ornamental shrimp or their young are safe with a small predatory cichlid. Even peaceful fish may take tiny crustaceans or newly hatched shrimp when the opportunity arises.
The 1-2 cm juveniles sold here are too young for a reliable sex guarantee. Adult males are generally larger and more colourful with more developed fins; females can show stronger orange tones around the pelvic area when mature. These differences are not dependable in newly imported or stressed juveniles.
When a compatible adult pair forms, territorial behaviour increases. The female prepares and guards the spawning site and early brood while the male defends a wider area. Very soft acidic water, excellent cleanliness and privacy are important. Breeding is an advanced project, and a customer should not buy two unsexed juveniles on the assumption that they will become a pair.
Prepare the aquarium before delivery: dim the lights, confirm temperature and water chemistry, and make sure quiet cover is available. Follow the livestock instructions supplied with the order and use our drip acclimation timer only where slow acclimation is appropriate for the measured difference between bag and aquarium water.
For the first week, keep disturbance low and confirm that the juvenile accepts appropriately small food. Check respiration, posture and belly condition daily. Do not add medication or alter pH without a diagnosis. Our Live Arrival Guarantee explains the evidence and reporting window required if a livestock delivery arrives in poor condition.
The current gallery image is a representative aquarium illustration, not a photograph of the individual fish dispatched. It must not be used to guarantee sex, exact colour, markings or adult finnage. The supplied juvenile will be much smaller and may look paler while settling. This disclosure remains important until a verified stock photograph is available.
It is one of the checkerboard cichlids, but the more precise trade name is Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid. The commonly encountered lyretail species is Dicrossus filamentosus. The scientific name should be checked whenever buying either fish.
No. It is a better choice for an aquarist already able to maintain mature, very soft, acidic water and observe small juveniles closely. A new or unstable aquarium is a poor match.
No. One quantity is one unsexed 1-2 cm juvenile. Sex and pair formation are not guaranteed. Plan space for the fish as they mature rather than buying two and assuming they will bond.
Plan for a group of at least eight juveniles, and preferably more where the aquarium can support them. As males mature, expect to retain a compatible adult pair and separate or rehome surplus or incompatible fish. One quantity on this page buys one juvenile.
Start with very small live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia or cyclops. Offer fine prepared foods only in sizes the fish can swallow, and verify that food reaches the lower part of the aquarium.
Yes, in a calm soft-water community with enough floor space and non-competitive tank mates. Expect more territorial behaviour around breeding, and avoid fish that need hard alkaline water.
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