Biajaca
Nandopsis tetracanthus
Cichlidae
Moderate
Parameter dashboard
Temperature
24-30 °C
pH
7-8
Size
20 cm
Lifespan
10 years
Min tank300 L
Price$$$$
DietCarnivore
TemperamentSemi-aggressive
OriginCentral America
Shrimp-safeNo
Care guide
The Biajaca, or Cuban cichlid, is the only cichlid species native to Cuba and it lives there in rivers, lakes, and even brackish coastal outlets. It reaches about 20 cm standard length and needs a spacious tank of at least 300 litres with robust filtration, because it is a messy predator by nature. In the wild it hunts smaller fish, shrimp, and aquatic insects, so in captivity it should be fed a carnivorous diet of sinking cichlid pellets, frozen krill, and occasional live foods. Temperature should sit between 24°C and 30°C with a pH of 7.0 to 8.0, reflecting its preference for moderately hard, alkaline water. A pair forms a strong bond and will defend a territory aggressively, especially during spawning, so tankmates need to be similarly robust Central or South American cichlids that can hold their own. Provide rockwork and driftwood to break up sight lines, along with a sandy substrate that the fish can dig in when nesting. The female lays several hundred eggs on a flat stone or pit, and both parents guard the brood with intensity. With good care they can live ten years or more. They are not beginner fish—their combination of size, aggression, and water-quality demands requires an experienced keeper.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (10)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue streak hap Labidochromis caeruleus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together Open pair in Compare → |
| Bluegray mbuna Melanochromis johannii Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Gold Cap Caudopunctatus Neolamprologus caudopunctatus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Leleupi Cichlid Neolamprologus leleupi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress Open pair in Compare → |
| Livingstonii Cichlid Nimbochromis livingstonii Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress Open pair in Compare → |
| Mendezs Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma mendezi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together Open pair in Compare → |
| Multies Neolamprologus multifasciatus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress Open pair in Compare → |
| Ram cichlid Mikrogeophagus ramirezi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together Open pair in Compare → |
| Tanganyika blackfin Altolamprologus calvus Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together Open pair in Compare → |
2 species with compatible assessment in this sampleCollapse to hide the list; use “Open pair in Compare” for the full matrix.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Firemouth cichlid Thorichthys meeki Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Jack Dempsey Rocio octofasciata Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
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