Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Checkerboard Cichlid

Dicrossus filamentosus (Ladiges, 1958)

Also called Chessboard cichlid, Lyretail checkerboard cichlid

SpeciesShort profile

From South America: the Rio Negro drainage of the Amazon basin and the Orinoco basin, from Colombia's Inirida River to Maripa in Venezuela.1 2 3

At a glance the quick version

Length3.8 to 10.2 cm1 2

Sizesmall

Striking checkerboard pattern

Elegant lyretail fins on males

Relatively peaceful for a cichlid

Looks how to spot one

Slim dwarf cichlid

A slender cichlid marked with a checkerboard of dark squares; mature males grow a long, lyre-shaped tail, while females keep a rounded one.2

Colourscheckerboard pattern of dark blocks2

Personality what they are like

Calm and somewhat shy; does best with gentle tankmates and plenty of hiding places.2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A bottom-dwelling fish that cruises slowly around plants and cover.2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Use dim lighting, dense planting and many hiding places; very soft water (reverse osmosis) helps for breeding.2 3

Home where they are happiest

Warm, soft, acidic water of about 23 to 30 C, pH roughly 4 to 7 and very low hardness, in at least a 60 x 30 cm base (FishBase suggests 80 cm).2 1 3

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivore; sinking cichlid pellets as the staple, plus spirulina flakes, frozen foods and live daphnia.2 3

Company who they like around

Usually kept as a pair; suits peaceful, non-pushy tankmates.1 2

The story where it all began

Ladiges described the species in 1958. It was once placed in the genus Crenicara before being moved to Dicrossus, and is told apart from its relative D. maculatus by the male's lyretail.1 2

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Only males develop the long, lyre-shaped tail that gives it the name lyretail checkerboard cichlid.2
2
The female lays eggs on a leaf or the bottom, then sends the male away and guards the brood alone.3
3
The eggs take around three days to hatch.3
4
It was formerly classified in the genus Crenicara.2

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 18 November 2020)1
Taxonomy: Described by Ladiges in 1958; once placed in the genus Crenicara2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Checkerboard Cichlid. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
Water testevery week
Glass cleanevery week
Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month

Start a free diary

Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid

Keyhole Cichlid

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.

FishBase: Dicrossus filamentosus fishbase.seused for distribution, size, IUCN, describer, aquarium notes
Seriously Fish: Dicrossus filamentosus seriouslyfish.comused for size, water parameters, tank size, diet, behaviour, dimorphism, taxonomy
Wikipedia: Dicrossus filamentosus en.wikipedia.orgused for distribution, breeding behaviour, water parameters

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.