Hypsophrys nicaraguensis (Nicaragua Cichlid, Никарагуанская цихлазома)

Nicaragua Cichlid, Butterfly Cichlid, Macaw Cichlid. Other popular names for this fish include Spilotum, Nicaraguense, Moga, and Nickie. They are found in 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. They are found in lakes and rivers with slow to moderate currents. When young they will eat aquatic insects, but as adults they feed on bottom detritus, seeds, and leaves along with snails and other mollusks. Like all cichlids it is territorial and has the capacity to be aggressive. However, it tends to only be a moderately aggressive fish and is more peaceful and reserved than many similarly sized Central American cichlids. The body of the Nicaragua Cichlid is stocky and compact with an extremely curved head that positions the mouth on the bottom. This is fairly large Central American cichlid reaching up to almost 10 inches (25 cm) in length. They have a life span of 10 - 15 years with proper care.