Care and Compatibility of Flag Cichlid - Mesonauta festivus

Introduction

The Flag Cichlid is known for its colorful and unique patterns. Males often have more intense and attractive colors than females. They can display shades of blue, green, red, and yellow on their body and fins. It is a medium-sized fish and can reach up to about 15 centimeters in length.

Behavior

Mesonauta festivus is known for its semi-aggressive nature, especially during breeding periods or when defending its territory. It can display territorial behavior towards other fish, particularly those that enter its established area. However, it can also be relatively peaceful when housed with compatible tank mates and in a well-planted aquarium that provides hiding spots.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Mesonauta festivus is minimal and difficult to distinguish. Both males and females have a similar appearance, although males may be slightly larger and have more developed fins.

Reproduction

Breeding Flag Cichlids can be challenging and requires suitable conditions in the aquarium. Males often build nests and court females. After fertilization, the parents may care for and protect the eggs and fry. It is recommended to provide hiding places and floating plants in the aquarium to create a conducive breeding environment.

Aquarium Conditions

Mesonauta festivus, commonly known as the flag cichlid, requires a spacious, well-decorated aquarium with rocks, driftwood, and hiding spots. It prefers slightly acidic to neutral water and a moderate temperature. Aquarium décor should include sturdy plants and open swimming areas. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a varied diet.

Feeding

When it comes to feeding, the Flag Cichlid is omnivorous and accepts a variety of foods. It can be provided with a balanced diet that includes commercial foods in the form of pellets, flakes, or tablets. Live or frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, and small crustaceans can also be offered.

Complexity

Caring for Mesonauta festivus can be moderately challenging. They are territorial fish and can be aggressive towards smaller species. It's recommended to keep them in pairs or groups to distribute aggression. They are omnivores and accept a variety of foods, including live and frozen foods.

In case you need more help, or if you want to know into any topic related to the Mesonauta festivus (Flag Cichlid) and even any other species you can use the forums to ask what you need.

To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Mesonauta festivus (Flag Cichlid) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Flag Cichlid with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 75 species compatible with the Mesonauta festivus (Flag Cichlid) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.

Compatible species (75)

Compatible (17 Species)

Compatible without any restriction

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Corydora Fish

Corydora

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Bristlenose Catfish

Ancistrus

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Lemon Catfish

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

With Reservation (7 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Killifish Nothobranchius

Nothobranchius

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Bala Shark

Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Showdown over territory (20 Species)

Fish can live together as long as the space is spacious enough to delimit a territory, otherwise there may be aggressions for competing for the territory.

Elephant Fish

Gnathonemus petersii

Neon Spot fish

Pseudotropheus elongatus chewere

Bumblebee Cichlid

Pseudotropheus crabro

Johanni Cichlid

Melanochromis johannii

Duboisi Cichlid

Tropheus duboisi

Labidochromis caeruleus - Labidochromis caeruleus

Hemichromis lifalili

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Dragon Violet Goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

Satena Pike Cichlid

Crenicichla strigata Günther

Rio Grande cichlid

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Pez Loro

Red Parrot

Frontosa Cichlid

Cyphotilapia frontosa

Commando Cichlid

Nimbochromis venustus

Suckermouth Catfish

Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Electric Blue Cichlid

Andinoacara pulcher

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Considerable size difference (31 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.