Managua). Many of the ones we see
these days come from local breeders and fish farms.
Name Origin: The
“jaguar” in their common name refers to their spotted body patterns
somewhat like the fur-bearing jaguars.
These spots and/or blotches vary considerably.
Water Conditions: Jaguars
readily adapt to a wide variety of water conditions.
They color best when kept in clean water.
Frequent water changes help bring out the violet sheen that makes
them such knockouts at maturity.
LA
Pic
In addition to attractive markings, the light purple sheen and red
eye complete the ensemble.
LA
Pic
Ten-inch jaguar (three inches smaller) probable male. Not as
impressive.
LA
Pic
Another 10-inch probable male jaguar.
Appeal: Besides looking
pretty, these guys eat like there’s no tomorrow.
They hit goldfish like a bass hitting a plug.
Most fans like them because of their huge appetites. Others
like the way they look. In a way, they resemble our black
crappies. Pretty.
LA
Iowa black crappie (pronounced crop-pee) not really looking much like a
jaguar after all.
LA Pix
Not at all hiders. Jaguars act similar to oscars -- except they don't
lie on their sides like oscars.
Size: Adults
easily exceed a foot when kept in large aquaria.
They grow larger than oscars if given 50 gallons of water per
fish. Frequent water changes help them grow.
Jumpers: For some
strange reason Jaguars like to bail. You’d
expect them to jump if kept with other biters and fighters.
However, jaguars bail even when kept alone.
Keep them tightly covered or expect to find them on the
floor. A layer of duckweed on the top decreases their jumping
activity. A well-secured cover works even better.
LA
Pic
At four-inches they mix well with other similar-sized South/Central
American cichlids.
LA
Pic
This four incher couldn't make the cut.
LA
Here's the mouth on a three incher.
Tank Mates: Looking for a
mixer with other large cichlids? Mix
your jaguars with other large, rowdy cichlids.
Remember that big fish eat smaller fish.
And if they can’t swallow them, big fish beat little fish.
Foods: Feeding jaguars
presents no problem. They love
goldfish, crayfish, and nightcrawlers.
They eagerly eat frozen plankton and krill.
Ditto the freeze-dried ones. They
also eat pellets. Give them
pellets with carotenes to bring out their color.
Josue (12 years old) Martinez, February 1, 2007
Hey, I just looked at the jaguar cichlid page and they don't just hit
goldfish hard. They hit crickets hard too. And I was wondering if you
could put this on your page in the blue box or whatever, so other
visitors can see this just in case they did not know.
A: You got it. LA
LA
Pix
When you approach a male jaguar's aquarium, he does not back away..
Gravel Choice: Darker
gravels will darken your jaguar cichlids.
Light gravels bleach them out. Darker gravels also brings out
that purple/violet (or whatever color) sheen.
Plants: Like all large
cichlids, jaguars will rip up live plants.
They also uproot plastic plants.
If you use plastic plants, glue gravel onto their bases to keep
them from floating. Glue on
the gravel with aquarium sealer. Use
the same color as your other gravel and your plants will always look
planted.
LA
Pix
She's shyer and smaller than the male. Once we got rid of the rock,
she displayed better.
LA Pic
Another smaller (six inches) probable female. Not colored yet.
Disease/Problems: You’re
more likely to see problems from dirty water rather than anything else.
LA
Pic
1.25-inch jaguars love to eat.
LA Pic
Young jaguars look like most other young cichlids.
LA Pic
At two inches, jaguars give just a hint of their future potential.
LA
Out of the water you can see that violet sheen starting to develop.
LA Pic
Always hungry jaguars -- even at two inches.
LA
Pic
Breeder female a bit smaller (and shyer) than the male.
LA
Her mate. Larger. Bigger fins. Violet sheen.
Brighter markings.
Breeding. You can breed
jaguars fairly easily (but not as easily as convicts), if you give them
plenty of room. You need a
male and a female at least five inches long.
Provide some flat areas for them to spawn on.
Give the female some extra cover in case she’s not quite as ready
as he is. They care for the
eggs and care for the fry very nicely.
If you used a dither fish during the bonding process get it out
once you see their eggs or fry. No
plecostomids, of course. They
eat the eggs at night.
Fry Care. The diligent
parents fan the eggs. Once
they hatch, they may move them to hide them from you.
Start feeding the fry when they start swimming.
Since they lay huge quantities of eggs (500+ and up, way up), you
will need huge quantities of fry food and lots of room.
LA
Pic
Jaguars seem to enjoy posing for their portrait.
LA
Pic
Are you lookin' at me? Can you see this jaguar's teeth?
Filtration:
You cannot over filter your managuense.
LA.
Go
to More Jaguars for more
photos.
© 2000,
© 2003,
© 2004,
© 2005,
© 2006
LA Productions
3600
Sixth Avenue
Corner
of Sixth & Euclid Avenues
Des
Moines, IA 50313
515
283-0300
Home
Fish
Other
Stuff
