Profile Distribution : North and Central America; Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Yucatan, and Honduras Size : Up to 10 inches. PH : 6.5 to 7.5 Temperature : 240 C to 300 C  Hardness : slightly soft to slightly hard water (8-12 dGH) Diet :  Omnivorous.  Eats all kind of fish including fresh live food (meat, insects, earthworms) to pellets and flakes. Breeding : Egg layers. The female will lay 500-800 eggs on carefully cleaned rocks. They form a nuclear family. The fry are kept in pits and are guarded by both the male and female in the manner of "monogamous cichlid" breeders. Sexual Difference :  Males are normally bigger and develop long pointed dorsal and anal fins. Some males have a round black spot in the center of the body and at the base of the tail.

Description As they can grow rather big, a big aquarium of at least 50 gal will benefit them. Efficient and good filtration with adequate water movement are essential as they can eat like gluttons and are prone to hole in head disease (HIDD) as in many central American cichlids. Sandy substrate and plenty of hiding places form by bogs and plants are preferred.  As they can burrow and dig, it would be good to have potted plants. Adult Blue Dempsey can be quite aggressive especially during breeding towards tank mates. Ideal tank mates includes the Green Terror, Convict cichlid, Texas cichlid and Oscars.

See Profile and Description of Other Central America Cichlids Amphilophus Citrinellus (Red Devil) Archocentrus Nigrofasciatus (Convict cichlid) Archocentrus Sajica Blue Dempesy (Cichlasoma Octofasciatum) Hypsophrs Nicaraguensis (nicaragua ciichlid) Nandopsis Salvani Parachromis Loisellei Thorichthys Meeki (Firemouth cichlid) Vieja Argentea Vieja Bifasciatum (Red Head Monk)