Cryptoheros

In its natural waters, females have been observed caring for mixed broods containing both their own fry and those of another cichlid, Amphilophus bussingi. It is unknown if these are mixed by accident (as the two species have also been recorded tending broods in close proximity to one another) or if this represents an adaptive behaviour to increase numbers in a brood and therefore decrease the chance of predation.

Inhabits moderate to fast-flowing, well-oxygenated, lowland streams and rivers with pH measured to range between 5.4 and 8.0 and temperature 22-31°C/71.6-87.8°F, while conductivity at one habitat was 600 µS. Substrates may be composed of open mud or sand, or strewn with variably-sized boulders depending on locality, while aquatic plants have not been observed. It occurs sympatrically with the convict cichlid, Amatitlania nigrofasciata with oth...