Flyer Cichlid

Common Name - flyer cichlid

Scientific name - Archocentrus centrarchus

Family - cichlidae

Origin - widely distributed across Central America

Maximum size - males 7" & females to around 5" (generally smaller)

Care - a hardy fish, can be aggressive especially when breeding. This fish is becoming uncommon and is not seen frequently in the hobby.

Feeding - will eat flake; prefers pellets and meaty foods such as earthworms and frozen food.

Sexing - the male has extensions to the dorsal fin and is larger than the female.

Breeding - the male will firstly clear a patch of the substrate. Both fish then become darker in colour and show signs of aggression before breeding. The pair will start to clean a surface like a rock or the side of the filter. Approximately 400 eggs are then deposited. These hatch after about 60 hours and are free swimming after about 4 days. The fry are strongly protected by the pair.

male

male and female, male left, female right

Female




Male and Female in breeding dress



Only a note on to sexing to add.

My females always have the anal spines flattend (or the very start of the anal fin).
Where as my males have extend their spines/ anal fin completely.

To tell them apart when they flex their fins there is a distinctly larger gap between the pelvic and anal fins on a female.

my flier cichlid