🐡 Festivum Cichlid Mesonauta festivus

The Festivum Cichlid (Mesonauta festivus) is a moderate-care, peaceful species from Amazon and Orinoco basins. Adults reach roughly 6", so plan on a minimum tank of 55 gallons. Keep the water between 75–82°F with a pH of 6–7.5. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 5 so it feels secure and colors up. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Festivum Cichlid

Rummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraPlatyMollySwordtailAngelfishDiscusGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisTiger BarbRosy BarbDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachClown LoachPictus CatfishCongo TetraBuenos Aires TetraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbDenison BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishKissing GouramiMoonlight GouramiKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraRainbow CichlidSterbai CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachDojo LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoSiamese Algae EaterBala SharkRainbow SharkFlying FoxAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishBamboo ShrimpRabbit SnailRed Eye TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraSilver DollarRuby BarbTinfoil BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiGolden RamFlag AcaraGold SeverumChocolate CichlidYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryStriped Raphael CatfishDwarf Chain LoachRed-Tail Tinfoil BarbWeather LoachHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpRed Claw CrabRed SwordtailHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollySailfin MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Avoid these tankmates

OscarWhite Cloud MinnowCherry ShrimpTexas CichlidFrontosaBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowBanjar Red CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond Shrimp

See the full tankmate guide for Festivum Cichlid →