Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus maculatus) - Brazil
- In stock, ready to ship
- Backordered, shipping soon
* For the safety of our animals, we now ship live fish exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout *
The Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlid is a study in subtle precision. Delicate yet defined, Dicrossus maculatus carries an intricate checkerboard pattern along its flanks, accented by the distinctive spade-shaped tail that gives the species its name. Unlike more assertive cichlids, this Brazilian species favors nuance over dominance—thriving in calm, structured aquariums that prioritize natural texture and stability.
Collected from Brazil, this species is best suited for aquarists who appreciate soft-water environments, leaf litter aesthetics, and behavior that unfolds gradually rather than aggressively.
What We Love About This Fish
• Intricate Patterning: A true checkerboard design that becomes more defined in optimal conditions.
• Elegant Spade Tail: A unique tail shape rarely seen in other dwarf cichlids.
• Refined Temperament: Less aggressive than many cichlid species.
• Blackwater Adaptability: Performs beautifully in tannin-influenced aquariums.
Quick Care Guidelines
• Temperature: 78°–84°F (26°–29°C)
• pH: 4.5–6.5
• KH: 0–3 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons (species-focused or carefully planned community)
• Diet: Carnivorous micro-predator; thrives on frozen and live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms. High-quality micro pellets may be accepted.
• Social Behavior: Generally peaceful but territorial during breeding; best kept in pairs or carefully structured groups.
• Community Tank Suitable: With Caution – Best in soft-water community aquariums with calm tank mates.
• Shrimp Safe: Not Recommended – Likely to prey on shrimp, especially juveniles.
• Origin: Collected – Brazil
• Average Adult Size: 3–4 inches (7.5–10 cm)
• Average Purchase Size: 1–1.5 inches (2.5–3.8 cm)
Dicrossus maculatus originates from soft, acidic tributaries within the Amazon basin of Brazil. These blackwater environments are influenced by decomposing leaf litter, submerged roots, and extremely low mineral content. The water is typically tea-colored from tannins, warm, and gently flowing. Stability and softness are essential components of replicating their natural conditions in the aquarium.
This species thrives in aquariums designed with texture, structure, and subdued lighting.
Plants:
Use soft-water tolerant plants such as Amazon Sword, Cryptocoryne species, and floating plants to diffuse light. Dense plant groupings help create visual barriers and reduce territorial tension during breeding.
Hardscape:
Incorporate driftwood branches, root tangles, and smooth stones to establish shaded territories. Flat surfaces and leaf-covered zones provide ideal spawning sites. Multiple hiding areas are essential to reduce stress.
Botanicals:
Aquatic Arts–branded botanicals such as Indian Almond Leaves, Catappa Bark, and Alder Cones are strongly recommended. These materials introduce tannins, soften lighting, and replicate natural leaf-litter ecosystems that promote confidence and coloration.
In nature, Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlids feed on small invertebrates and microfauna. In aquariums, frequent offerings of frozen or live foods produce the best condition and coloration. While some individuals adapt to prepared foods, a protein-rich diet supports long-term health and breeding success.
Best housed with peaceful soft-water species such as small tetras, pencilfish, and dwarf Corydoras. Avoid aggressive or highly active tank mates that may intimidate them or outcompete them during feeding. A calm, structured environment is critical.
Not recommended for shrimp aquariums. As a carnivorous micro-predator, Dicrossus maculatus may consume shrimp, particularly smaller individuals.
A substrate-spawning species that deposits eggs on flat surfaces within protected territories. Females guard eggs and fry, displaying increased territorial behavior during this period. Extremely soft, acidic water is often necessary for successful spawning and fry development.
Are Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlids aggressive?
They are generally peaceful but become territorial during breeding.
Do Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlids require soft water?
Yes. Soft, acidic water is important for long-term health and breeding success.
Can they live in a community aquarium?
They can live in carefully structured soft-water community tanks with calm species.
Are they beginner friendly?
They are best suited for intermediate aquarists comfortable maintaining soft-water conditions.
Are they safe with shrimp?
No. They may prey on shrimp, particularly juveniles.
What do Spadetail Checkerboard Cichlids eat?
They prefer frozen and live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms.
How large do they grow?
Adults typically reach 3–4 inches in length.
Do they need botanicals?
Botanicals are strongly recommended to replicate their natural blackwater habitat.
Can multiple males be kept together?
Space and structure are critical; males may become territorial in confined aquariums.
Are they good for blackwater aquariums?
Yes. They are exceptionally well-suited for tannin-influenced blackwater setups.
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
