Home / Fishes / Cichlids / Cichlidae / Mesonauta insignis

No federal permit to keep

Mesonauta insignis

Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)

Mesonauta insignis is a species of cichlid fish native to the Orinoco and upper Rio Negro basins in South America.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Intermediate

FamilyCichlids

Adult lengthup to 4.9 in

WaterFreshwater

HabitatLives in freshwater

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 4.9 in / 12.4 cm).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 79–86°F (range recorded for this species).
pH: 5–8.
Hardness: 1–19 dGH.
Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Diet: FishBase classes it as a omnivore.

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 47 × 15 in (roughly 36 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
Water: 79–86 °F, 0–20 dGH.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “Well planted tank with moderate water flow.”
Tankmates: “Peaceful cichlid, although becomes more aggressive when breeding.”
Breeding: “Breeding takes place a flat stone or similar area.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Central and South American cichlids

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rivers and lakes of the Americas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Size ranges widely, from convicts at 5 in to Parachromis over 20 in; plan tank size for the adult fish.
Most tolerate neutral, moderately hard water; strong filtration and rock or wood caves.

Sources 117 119 164

Climate & lighting

Water

75–82°F

Sources 117 119 164

Diet

Omnivorous cichlid pellets plus vegetables for herbivores (Vieja, Uaru) and meaty foods for predators (Parachromis).

Sources 117 119 164

Social life

Territorial; breeding pairs can clear a whole tank.

Sources 117 119 164

Health watch

Aggression and territorial injuries, especially when breeding; hole-in-the-head in poor water.

Sources 117 119 164

Understanding the animal

About this animal

Although generally reported to reach a length up to 9.7 cm (3.8 in), others suggest it can reach about twice that size.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Mesonauta insignis” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

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, in rivers and streams, mangroves. Uses both the bottom and open water. In lakes and swamps; locally consumed, smoked.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 79–86 °F (26–30 °C), pH 5–8, hardness 1–19 dH.
Climate	Tropical climate.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 79–86 °F.

FishBase species summary: Mesonauta insignis

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 90°F (up to 94°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 70°F (down to 68°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	78–81°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	79–84% on average (driest month about 78%)
Rainfall	about 2389 mm a year

Measured at 255 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

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
Biology	In lakes and swamps; locally consumed, smoked. Maximum length 20 cm TL. — FishBase

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources4.4in

FishBase 1644.9

Seriously Fish species profiles 1673.9

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

Average of sources79–86°F

FishBase 16479–86

Seriously Fish species profiles 16779–86

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Reported5–8

FishBase 1645–8

Water hardness

Average of sources0.5–19.5dGH

FishBase 1641–19

Seriously Fish species profiles 1670–20

Minimum tank footprint

Reported47in

Seriously Fish species profiles 16747

Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 15 in (about 36 US gallons).

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=commercial; AquariumFishII=based mainly on capture)
2 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

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.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.