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Contents
Overview
The chessboard cichlid (Dicrossus filamentosus) is a dwarf cichlid from the blackwater rivers of the Orinoco and upper Rio Negro basins in Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. Its slender body carries a double row of dark blotches that looks just like a checkerboard, and adult males develop a lyre-shaped tail with long filaments and red and blue highlights.
For a cichlid it is remarkably peaceful and shy, making it a beautiful centerpiece for a soft-water Amazon setup with small tetras. It is not a beginner fish, though: it is sensitive to water quality and only thrives in very soft, acidic, clean water. For hobbyists with some experience it is a real gem.
Care and tank setup
A tank of about 26 gallons (100 L) with a 30-inch (80 cm) footprint suits a pair or one male with two females. Floor space matters more than height.
- Water: soft and acidic with low conductivity. RO water lightly remineralized, plus catappa leaves or alder cones, recreates its habitat.
- Décor: fine sand, driftwood, leaf litter and plants that cast shade. Subdued lighting brings out the best colors.
- Maintenance: small, frequent water changes; it does not tolerate high nitrate or sudden pH swings.
- Tankmates: small tetras, pencilfish and soft-water corydoras. Avoid fast, greedy fish that outcompete it at feeding time.
The classic mistake is adding it to a newly set-up tank or to hard tap water, where it gets sick and loses color. Always use a fully cycled aquarium with gentle filtration and a reliable heater.
Feeding
In the wild it hunts tiny invertebrates in the leaf litter. In the aquarium it takes live and frozen foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae, cyclops) and, with patience, small high-quality pellets. Offer small portions twice a day and make sure faster tankmates are not stealing everything.
Breeding
The female lays her eggs on a broad leaf or flat stone and tends them, while the male patrols the territory. Success depends on very soft, acidic water (pH below 6), since eggs laid in hard water usually fungus. The fry become free-swimming after a few days and can be raised on freshly hatched baby brine shrimp.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Chessboard cichlid. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Cherry barb Puntius titteya 16 gal (60 L) · 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) 
Betta fish Betta splendens 7 gal (25 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare 53 gal (200 L) · 75–84 °F (24–29 °C) 
Dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius 16 gal (60 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Rummy-nose tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus 26 gal (100 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi 21 gal (80 L) · 73–84 °F (23–29 °C) 
Clown loach Chromobotia macracanthus 132 gal (500 L) · 77–86 °F (25–30 °C) 
Golden wonder killifish (striped panchax) Aplocheilus lineatus 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Blue gourami Trichopodus trichopterus 32 gal (120 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Chessboard cichlid, and why.
- Common goldfish: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH
- Guppy: incompatible pH, incompatible water hardness
- Yellow lab cichlid: incompatible pH, incompatible water hardness
- Molly: incompatible pH, incompatible water hardness
- Oranda goldfish: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH
- Oscar: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
- Platy: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH, incompatible water hardness
- Ember tetra: one may eat the other due to size
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Chessboard cichlid healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Chessboard cichlid need?
At least about 100 liters for a group of at least 2 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Chessboard cichlid need?
Between 25 and 29 °C, with a pH of 4.5 to 6.5.
What fish can live with the Chessboard cichlid?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Cherry barb, Betta fish, Harlequin rasbora, Bristlenose pleco and Bronze cory. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Chessboard cichlid be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
