Nicaragua Cichlid
Hypsophrys nicaraguensis

Aka:  Spilotum, Moga

Size:  Up to 9 inches (23 cm)

Native to:  Central America along the Atlantic slope; from the San Juan drainage, including Lake Nicaragua, in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, to the Matina River drainage in Costa Rica.

An omnivorous cichlid that as it matures will get more and more colorful.  These fish can get spectacular in color.  This species has not gained the popularity of other Central American cichlids, so consequently they are often hard to find.

The Nicaragua Cichlid is relatively gentle and peaceful.  It can be kept with other smaller cichlids, but not with the more aggressive cichlids such as the Texas Cichlid or the Red Devil.   They are cave spawners.  They like a sandy bottom and plenty of caves or other hiding places among rocks, pieces of slate, and driftwood.  They will occasionally eat soft leaved plants during spawning but will do great in planted tanks.   

Adults will feed on bottom detritus, seeds, and leaves along with snails and other mollusks.