Common name: Jaguar cichlid, guapote jaguar
Region: Nicaragua
Size: 16-20 inches wild, 14-16 in captivity
Color: silver with black spots
Water Chemistry:ph:7 (neutral)
Temperature: 75F
Aggression: very high
Compatibility: little, or no compatibility
Diet: pellets, frozen, crickets, live food
Breeding: breeds on flat rocks, similar to Jack Dempseys
General: This Nicaraguan cichlid is still somewhat uncommon, most are still wild caught, although there are some very nice captive bred lines available from reputable breeders. This particular cichlid has most of the traits found in other large New World species, but differs in a few ways from other large cichlids.
In the wild, this fish is a top predator. As juveniles they live in small ponds and lakes formed by the flooding of the rivers in the rainy season. As they grow to adults they move back into the rivers. They eat just about anything they can catch, even if the prey is bigger. They have been known to eat other cichlids, other fish species, piranha, and even birds.
In the aquarium, Jags are not particularly picky about water conditions. Due to their adult size, they need at least 120-150 gallons if not more. They prefer a neutral ph (around 7), and a temperature around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, but can stand higher or lower ph and temperature due to their natural ability to adapt to different conditions they experience in the wild. They can and will jump so the tank should be completely covered. They require a good filtration system, due to the amount of waste they put out. You can minimize the waste by feeding dried foods. Despite their resilience, they should be kept at optimum ph, temperature, and water quality in order to maintain a healthy, happy, beautiful specimen. The tank should not have any plants or delicate decorations, as they will destroy them. I prefer small black gravel, large rocks, and a large fake stump. The small black gravel helps their silver coloring to stand out, and I think this is important because the silver areas are where the color changes show best, depending on their mood. They also will scoop up the gravel in their mouths and move it around the tank. Anything that could get stuck in their mouths should be removed from the tank.
 They are not very picky about foods. Some wild caught specimens will shy away from pellet food, either ignoring the food or repeatedly striking without eating. Given some time, they should take to pellet or frozen foods. Once adapted, I prefer to feed mine a diet of color enhancing cichlid pellets, crickets, and jumbo nightcrawlers. They will often strike pellet foods several times before they actually eat them. They love live feeder fish, and will grow very quickly this way, but feeders are often caught in huge wild batches and could potentially have any number of diseases. If you choose to feed your Jaguar this way, the best way is to set up a second feeder tank and quarantine the feeders for at least two weeks. Feeders should also be small enough for the Jags to swallow, as they will brutally and repeatedly attack large feeders, often times leaving them alive but missing their tail or parts of their abdomen and left to die inhumanely. I have found that they will grow just as well on pellet and frozen foods. Crickets and worms are also excellent foods, and they don’t carry any diseases that can be passed on to your fish. They will hit crickets HARD! I have even seen juveniles jump and catch flies that passed too low over the tank, which is why they need to be kept in covered tanks.
Jags do not like tank mates, I learned the hard way many years ago with my first two Jags, waking up in the morning to find that my four inch jags had killed two of my five inch peacock bass, and a six inch albino channel cat in a 200 gallon tank. I then moved the two Jags to a 50 gallon tank, where one of the jags killed the other. They don’t care about territory, they just kill anything they can get to, even each other. I have not tried any other fish, since they kill just to kill, often times not even eating their kill. Even other aggressive cichlids will fall prey to the canine fangs of the Jaguar cichlid.
When breeding the fish, you should first sex the fish. The Males show more color and tend to have longer fins, but when sexing for breeding a comparison against other Jags is necessary to be sure. If you introduce a male to another male or female to female the strongest one will kill the other so be sure you have a male and a female, at least four years old. The female will lay its eggs on a flat rock and both the male an female will defend the eggs with their lives. After the fry are born, both parents should immediately be removed. The fry can be fed with special gel type foods made specifically for that purpose. Since this fish get so large and cannot be kept with others, it is not a great idea to breed them unless you are breeding them for sale. If selling, you should make aware to the buyer, the requirements needed to be a responsible owner.
This is a really awesome, unique fish to raise from young, but there are downsides to having such an aggressive fish.. They are a primarily silver fish with thick black spots. The spots will stand out more as they get older. This cichlid, like many, can change its colors. They often show a beautiful bluish-purple in their fins and sometimes even an orange-red hue if the fish is angry or threatened. They have orange eyes that light up like fire when they are angry, and can also flare their gills and mouth to make them appear bigger. They hit their food, even pellets, very hard. These fish make even the meanest Oscar look like a kitten. Care should be taken when cleaning the tank because a bite from a Jag is very painful. I have been bitten by a 14 inch piranha and a 9 inch Jag, and I would take the piranha bite any day over the Jag. When they are about 4 inches long their lower fangs start to become more prominent. They will not hesitate to use them if you stick your hand in the tank. I have experience with many aggressive cichlids and this is not only the most aggressive cichlid, but the most aggressive fish I have ever raised, including piranha. Most cichlid fans like cichlids because of their predatory behavior and looks, their beauty, and size. The Jag has all of these. This is definitely the “baddest” fish I have ever had, and has a very unique look. They are immediately recognizable, and they get more beautiful the older they get. Some view this fish as plain due to its black and silver coloring, but they show many colors, depending on their moods. Since they grow so large, are so aggressive, and require so much space and filtration, only experienced people with the knowledge and means to care for a fish like this should own one. The name Jaguar doesn’t just describe the spots on the fish, but their temper and ferocity as well. If you love cichlids and can meet these requirements, I guarantee you will not be disappointed with this cichlid. |
New World Cichlids 
