The large and beautifully colored Managuense Cichlid can make an exciting pet fish. These fish usually cannot be kept with others; however, on their own, they can make an impressive and interesting display.

In captivity, Managuense Cichlids are quite territorial. They will often hunt and eat smaller fish in their enclosures and do not tolerate the presence of other fish of their own species. In fact, some have been reported to attack their own reflections and to display threat behaviors when people are in the same room as their aquaria. On the other hand, some owners consider their Managuense Cichlids to be less aggressive than other Cichlid species. Managuense Cichlids are reported to be amusing to watch, hardy, and intelligent, and for these reasons, it is not hard to understand why many people keep them.

The Managuense Cichlid will become 9 to 11 inches (23 to 28 centimeters) long by the time it has matured. However, specimens over 12 inches long have been reported. In color, the Managuense Cichlid is white with mottled black spots. For this reason, it is sometimes called the Jaguar Cichlid.

Managuense Cichlids are native to Central America, from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. In these areas, it is often used as an important food source. In other parts of the world, Managuense Cichlids are valued as pets or display fish. They have been introduced to some waterways in the United States, in the state of Utah.

The enclosure for a single Managuense Cichlid should be at least 150 liters in volume. Managuense Cichlids do well in temperatures in the upper 70 degrees Fahrenheit (23 to 26 degrees Celsius). The pH of the water should remain between 7.0 and 8.5, although the range between 7.1 and 7.5 is optimal. It has been reported that the addition of non-iodized salt in the amount of one teaspoon per ten liters of water can be beneficial to these fish. Although plenty of hiding places should be provided, plastic plants should be offered rather than live plants. Normally, Managuense Cichlids are kept with larger fish or alone, as they have been known to harmfully and sometimes fatally attack smaller fish and also other Cichlids. The diet of the Managuense Cichlid is usually based on live or frozen bloodworms, glass worms, and brine shrimp. Frozen plankton and bits of beef heart are also offered, in addition to live fish and tubifex worms. Although a natural diet is preferred, many Managuense Cichlids can do well on pellet or tablet food.

Male Managuense Cichlids can be identified by their pointed anal and dorsal fins, and also by their coloration, normally brighter than that of females. These fish usually form mating pairs when they are about four inches (ten centimeters) long. The pair will bond and will defend each other, their territory, and their young from other fish. A bonded pair should be separated from other fish, as they may show excessive aggression toward them. Non-bonded pairs can also be mated. To do this, a divider should be placed in the tank. It should be just above a flat rock, leaving too little space for either Cichlid to swim under it. In this way, the female can lay her eggs and the male can fertilize them with minimal contact between the fish. By maturity, female Managuense Cichlids are usually smaller than males, and another option is to cut a hole in the divider small enough for the female to escape through, but too small for the male to follow, if he should show aggression. About 500 eggs are deposited on a flat large rock, and the female Managuense Cichlid cares for the fry. As the male sometimes eats the young, you may wish to remove him from the enclosure. Breeders usually cull the fry down to about 125 in number in order to improve their health and chances of survival. Managuense Cichlid fry are fed on microworms, freshly hatched brine shrimp, and powdered pellet or flake food.