Flag Cichlid
Laetacara curviceps
The Flag Cichlid (Laetacara curviceps) is a peaceful fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 140 litres (37 US gallons), water held at 75-82°F, and a pH of 5.5-7.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America (Amazon basin)
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Flag Cichlid Tank Setup
Give them at least 140 litres (37 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 75-82°F and a pH around 5.5-7. They reach about 15 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Flag Cichlids Eat?
They have small mouths, so stick to small foods: crushed flake, fine granules, and now and then a treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Anything too large simply gets ignored.
Flag Cichlid Tank Mates
Soft, acidic blackwater dwarf cichlid - sensitive to hard or alkaline water and to poor water quality generally. Shy by nature; give it dense planting, leaf litter and calm, similarly gentle tankmates rather than boisterous community fish. The Flag Cichlid is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Flag Cichlids Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Flag Cichlid - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Flag Cichlids need?
Flag Cichlids need a tank of at least 140 litres (37 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Flag Cichlids need?
Keep them at 75-82°F with a pH of 5.5-7, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Flag Cichlids eat?
Flag Cichlids have small mouths, so they need small foods. Crushed flake and fine granules form the staple, with the occasional treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Flag Cichlids good for beginners?
Flag Cichlids are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Flag Cichlids
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 140 litres (37 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Flag Cichlid against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Flag Cichlids
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Serpae TetraFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
- Tiger BarbFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
