Home / Fishes / Cichlids / Cichlidae / Wallaciia compressiceps
No federal permit to keepWallaciia compressiceps
Crenicichla compressiceps
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Wallaciia compressiceps is a species of cichlid native to South America.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.3 in / 5.73 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–81°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 5.5–7.2.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 35 × 15 in (roughly 41 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: soft, acidic water, 75–81 °F, pH 5–6.8, 2–8 dGH.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Provide an aquarium with plenty of hiding places, especially using bits of wood and leaves scattered across the substrate.”
- Diet: “Tank bred specimens will happily take most foods, but wild caught fish may demand live or at the least frozen foods.”
- Tankmates: “Can be very aggressive, hence the requirement for such a large tank in relation to this fish's size.”
- Breeding: “It has been noted by a number of hobbyists that spawning Crenicichla Compressiceps may be very difficult without target fish in the aquarium.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Oscars, peacock bass, pike cichlids and eartheaters
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Large South American rivers. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For one adult Astronotus ocellatus, plan at least a 150 × 60 cm base according to Seriously Fish; pairs and groups need more space. Use separate adult plans for Cichla and each eartheater species.
- Soft sand for eartheaters (Geophagus, Satanoperca), which sift substrate through their gills.
Climate & lighting
Starting point only: The blanket warm-water interval excludes the subtropical seasonal requirements of G. balzanii; use overrides. Check the species-specific values for this animal where shown.
| Water | 77–84°F |
Diet
- Astronotus ocellatus is an omnivore with a preference for animal foods; offer quality pellets and varied suitable foods rather than feeder-fish dependence. Cichla and substrate-sifting eartheaters require separate feeding plans.
Health watch
- Hole-in-the-head disease and lateral line erosion in poor water; eartheaters suffer on sharp gravel.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is found in the Amazon River basin and in the lower Tocantins River basin. This species reaches a length of 5.7 cm (2.2 in).
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Wallaciia compressiceps” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–81 °F (24–27 °C), pH 5.5–7.2, hardness 15 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–81 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 93°F (up to 94°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 68°F (down to 64°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 79–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 79–82% on average (driest month about 67%) |
| Rainfall | about 1738 mm a year |
Measured at 5 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 15 in (about 41 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish: Gymnogeophagus balzanii Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Astronotus ocellatus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More cichlids
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Aquarium hobby
Altolamprologus calvus
Altolamprologus calvus
Aquarium hobby
Altum Angel
Pterophyllum altum
Aquarium hobby
Anomalochromis thomasi
Anomalochromis thomasi
Aquarium hobby
Apistogramma eremnopyge
Apistogramma eremnopyge
Aquarium hobby
Argentine humphead
Gymnogeophagus balzanii
Aquarium hobby