🐟TankstockerFreshwater Stocking & Compatibility

🐡 Checkerboard Cichlid Dicrossus filamentosus

Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus filamentosus) — male
Male
Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus filamentosus) — female
Female

The Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus filamentosus) is a moderate-care, peaceful species from Amazon basin. Adults reach roughly 3", so plan on a minimum tank of 20 gallons. Keep the water between 75–82°F with a pH of 4.5–6.5. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. Its long fins make it a target for known fin-nippers. As a micropredator, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Adult size3"
Minimum tank20 gallons
Temperature75–82°F
pH4.5–6.5
TemperamentPeaceful
SchoolingNo
DietMicropredator
Care levelModerate
OriginAmazon basin
Shop 20-gallon setupsFilterWater test kit

Good tankmates for Checkerboard Cichlid

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraDiscusGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisHarlequin RasboraCherry BarbDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachAmano ShrimpMarble HatchetfishBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraDiamond TetraEmperor TetraX-Ray TetraScissortail RasboraDenison BarbCheckerboard BarbNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiMoonlight GouramiChocolate GouramiKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraSterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoSiamese Algae EaterRainbow SharkFlying FoxBamboo ShrimpGold TetraPenguin TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraSilver DollarEmerald Eye RasboraGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbForktail Blue-eyeLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraFestivum CichlidYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpLyretail KillifishClown Killifish

Avoid these tankmates

AngelfishOscarWhite Cloud MinnowJack DempseyGreen TerrorTexas CichlidFrontosaChinese Algae EaterBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowBucktooth TetraBanjar Red CichlidSalvini CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidCompressed CichlidCalvus Cichlid

See the full tankmate guide for Checkerboard Cichlid →