My new Dicrossus filamentosus trio :-)
 

I made a visit down to my LFS yesterday and true to form I couldn't leave empty handed, lol.
I purchased a trio of Dicrossus filamentosus (dwarf checkerboard cichlid) and while they are still teeny tiny juvies the male is already showing some color. I have two females and one male. After seeing how ridiculously small they look in my 75 I may go back and pick up one more trio. Cool little fish. Attached is a pic of the male, wish I could have gotten a better close up but he's still a little shy.

They're so cute. I second that you should go and pick up another trio!:-D

I agree, I will head down on Wednesday and get three more! I'm unable to find Apistogramma cacatuoides locally and these Dicrossus develop nearly the same type of finnage as far as their tails as adults that the cacatuaides do, and they behave very similarly too. Less than 24 hours in my tank and already I *love* them. :-)

Wow there are so cute just got a new lil fishy to!

This is indeed a beautiful dwarf cichlid, in my view the finest. I would increase the females though, at the very least to equal the males. Otherwise the poor female(s) will be hounded by the males in succession.

Can you tell if yours are the Rio Negro or Rio Orinoco populations?

Byron.

I'm glad you chimed in! I thought of you when I purchased them, because I had an idea you would appreciate them! I have two females and one male, currently. I'm going to be purchasing three more on Wednesday. So, in regards to six individuals what is the male/female ratio I should have? Four females, two males??

As far as Negro or Orinoco, I do not know. How do I tell?? Ron (my LFS guy) told me that he almost never gets these fish in so I had to jump on them. They are so much more beautiful in person. :-)

Hey congrats. on your new family members :)

I love them.

Nice pick up. They are very pretty.:-)

I had this species many years ago. I would say equal male/female is OK. You were initially thinking of 2 males to 1 female or (I assume) 4 males to 2 females, and I would suggest 3 males and 3 females would be better. The males are the more colourful, and you have the space in a 4-foot to accomodate the male's territorial aggression with no problems. And lots of plants and wood for the females to "rest" in.

Read our profile :smash: . It mentions the difference between the two populations. And if these were imported from SA, direct to the store, they should know if they came from Brazil (Rio Negro) or Venezuela/Columbia (Rio Orinoco). If they are locally bred, the store might not know this, so the colour difference will be it.

I really do think this is the most beautiful of the dwarf cichlids.

Byron.

:smash: ??? LOL!!

I will do the male/female equal ratio. Once I got them home in my tank they colored up beautifully, even though they are tiny juvies. I think they much the prefer the heavily planted tank I have versus the barren LFS tank. :-)

Off to read the profile.... :doh!: