Festivum (Flag Cichlid)
Mesonauta festivus
Cichlidae
About
The festivum, or flag cichlid, is a tall, laterally compressed South American cichlid from the slow, vegetation-fringed creeks and flooded margins of the Amazon and Paraguay basins. Named for the bold dark stripe running diagonally from snout to dorsal fin, it is a peaceful, somewhat shy species that has long been prized as a classic companion for angelfish and discus in soft, warm blackwater community tanks.
Care
Keep a group of six or more in a long, well-planted tank of 200 litres or more with soft to neutral warm water, gentle flow, and driftwood or leaf cover for security. Peaceful but shy, so avoid boisterous or fin-nipping tankmates.
Diet
Opportunistic omnivore that takes small invertebrates, crustaceans, algae and plant matter in the wild; offer quality dry foods with regular frozen or live protein and some greens.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (212)
Avoid (59)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Festivum (Flag Cichlid) need?
- A Festivum (Flag Cichlid) needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres (52.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Festivum (Flag Cichlid) need?
- Festivum (Flag Cichlid) does best at 23–30 °C (73.4–86 °F), pH 5.5–7.8 and a general hardness of 1–12 °dGH.
- What group size does a Festivum (Flag Cichlid) need?
- Festivum (Flag Cichlid) is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Festivum (Flag Cichlid) suitable for beginners?
- Festivum (Flag Cichlid) sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.