Amatitlania myrnae

The Topaz Cichlid, also known as Myrna's or the Sapphire Cichlid, is a stunning fish from Central America that packs a big personality into a small body. While its shimmering blue and yellow colours are captivating, it's not a typical peaceful community fish. It belongs to the cichlid family, famous for their intelligence and bold, territorial nature. Think of them as the small guard dogs of the aquarium world; they will claim a part of the tank as their own and defend it, especially from other bottom-dwelling fish. For a happy Topaz Cichlid, you'll need an aquarium of at least 80 litres, which gives a pair enough space to establish their home. They love to rearrange their environment, so a sandy bottom is perfect for their natural digging behaviour. Provide plenty of caves, rocks, and driftwood for them to explore and hide in. Be warned, they are known as 'plant rooters,' meaning they will likely uproot delicate aquarium plants. It's best to choose very tough plants like Anubias and Java Fern attached to decorations, or simply use high-quality artificial plants. Feeding is easy as they are omnivores and will accept most fish foods. A good quality pellet or flake food should be their main diet, with occasional treats of frozen or live foods and some vegetable matter like blanched peas to keep them healthy. Because of their territorial behaviour, choosing tank mates requires care. They are best kept as a single breeding pair. If you want other fish, choose fast-swimming species that stay in the upper parts of the water and can handle a bit of chasing. A Topaz Cichlid is a fascinating and rewarding pet for an aquarist prepared for its dynamic personality.