Cryptoheros septemfasciatus
Encyclopedia
Cryptoheros septemfasciatus (sometimes called the Seven-stripe Cichlid or Cutter's Cichlid) is a fish species in the cichlid
family. It is found on the Atlantic
slope of Costa Rica
, between the San Juan River drainage and the Banano River. Several currently recognized cichlid species within the genus Cryptoheros
were formerly considered varieties of Cryptoheros septumfasciatus, including Cryptoheros myrnae, the Topaz Cichlid, and Cryptoheros cutteri (which also sometimes uses the common name "Cutter's Cichlid").
Prior to being placed in the genus Cryptoheros, it had been considered a member of the genus Archocentrus
. Within Cryptoheros, Cryptoheros septemfasciatus is placed in the subgenus Bussingius, along with the T-bar Cichlid and several other species. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican has suggested that all the species in Cryptoheros, including C. septemfasciatus, should be moved into the genus Hypsophrys
.
on the dorsal fin
, which is generally surrounded by metallic coloration.
It lives in rivers on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica. It can be found in rivers of all velocities, including slow moving and fast moving rivers. The bottom of the rivers it lives in are generally covered by rocks and leaf litter. In its natural habitat, the pH
is generally between 6.6 and 7.6 and the water temperature is between 21 and 27 degrees Celsius (70 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit).
Cryptoheros septumfasciatus is an egg layer and a cave spawner. In breeds in crevices in the rocks at the bottom of the river. Spawnings typically result in 200 to 250 fry.
The conservation status of Cryptoheros septumfasciatus has not been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
s. It is territorial, and thus a fairly large tank that is at least 90 to 100 cm (35.4 to 39.4 in) long is generally recommended. It can be kept at a temperature of between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius (75 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit), and pH of about 7.0. In the home aquarium, it is willing to eat a wide variety of foods, including flake food, live foods, frozen foods, beef heart and shrimp.
Cryptoheros septumfasciatus can be bred in the home aquarium. It will either spawn in a cave or in the open. A temperature increase to 26 and 28 degrees Celsius (79 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit) helps induce spawning. The larvae hatch 72 to 80 hours after spawning, and are free swimming after 180 to 200 hours. The parents do not eat the fry, but rather both parents care for the fry intensively. The fry eat newly hatched brine shrimp
.
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
family. It is found on the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
slope of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, between the San Juan River drainage and the Banano River. Several currently recognized cichlid species within the genus Cryptoheros
Cryptoheros
Cryptoheros is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America and southeast Mexico. The genus currently contains 9 species. It includes species formerly included within the genus Archocentrus. The convict cichlid has sometimes been placed within the genus Cryptoheros as well, but is now...
were formerly considered varieties of Cryptoheros septumfasciatus, including Cryptoheros myrnae, the Topaz Cichlid, and Cryptoheros cutteri (which also sometimes uses the common name "Cutter's Cichlid").
Prior to being placed in the genus Cryptoheros, it had been considered a member of the genus Archocentrus
Archocentrus
Archocentrus is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 3 species. It formerly included 7 of the species now included in the genus Cryptoheros, as well as the convict cichlid, now included in the genus Amatitlania. The Rainbow Cichlid, Archocentrus...
. Within Cryptoheros, Cryptoheros septemfasciatus is placed in the subgenus Bussingius, along with the T-bar Cichlid and several other species. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican has suggested that all the species in Cryptoheros, including C. septemfasciatus, should be moved into the genus Hypsophrys
Hypsophrys
Hypsophrys is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 2 species. It originally contained just H. nicaraguensis but was revised in 2007 to include the poor man's tropheus, or neet, H...
.
Natural history
Cryptoheros septumfasciatus grows to between 4 and 5 in (10.2 and 12.7 cm). Males are typically larger than females. Both sexes generally have six vertical bars along each side. Females have a black spot or ocellusOcellus
A simple eye refers to a type of eye design or optical arrangement that contains a single lens which detect light. A "simple eye" is so-called in distinction from a multi-lensed "compound eye", and is not necessarily at all simple in the usual sense of the word...
on the dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
, which is generally surrounded by metallic coloration.
It lives in rivers on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica. It can be found in rivers of all velocities, including slow moving and fast moving rivers. The bottom of the rivers it lives in are generally covered by rocks and leaf litter. In its natural habitat, the pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
is generally between 6.6 and 7.6 and the water temperature is between 21 and 27 degrees Celsius (70 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit).
Cryptoheros septumfasciatus is an egg layer and a cave spawner. In breeds in crevices in the rocks at the bottom of the river. Spawnings typically result in 200 to 250 fry.
The conservation status of Cryptoheros septumfasciatus has not been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Aquarium keeping
Cryptoheros septumfasciatus is kept in home aquariumAquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
s. It is territorial, and thus a fairly large tank that is at least 90 to 100 cm (35.4 to 39.4 in) long is generally recommended. It can be kept at a temperature of between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius (75 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit), and pH of about 7.0. In the home aquarium, it is willing to eat a wide variety of foods, including flake food, live foods, frozen foods, beef heart and shrimp.
Cryptoheros septumfasciatus can be bred in the home aquarium. It will either spawn in a cave or in the open. A temperature increase to 26 and 28 degrees Celsius (79 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit) helps induce spawning. The larvae hatch 72 to 80 hours after spawning, and are free swimming after 180 to 200 hours. The parents do not eat the fry, but rather both parents care for the fry intensively. The fry eat newly hatched brine shrimp
Brine shrimp
Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans known as brine shrimp. Artemia, the only genus in the family Artemiidae, has changed little externally since the Triassic period...
.