RED FOREST JEWEL

Difficulty:Intermediate Max Growth Size:14 cm Temperament:Territorial, keep  Cichlids Preferred Water Parameters: Temperature:23-27 degrees celsius pH Level:pH 6.0-7.5,  General Hardness : KH 2-8 Range :Central Africa Diet: Carnivorous Red Forest Jewels are best known for having the most intense, red color that exists within any natural, fresh water Cichlid species.  Native to acidic streams and rivers of Central Africa, the Congo and the Ubanghi tributaries, they have iridescent green to blue spotting on an intensely bright red base coloring.  They also have a black, lateral spot as well as a black, ocellus spot on their operculum. When young, the species sometimes exhibits a black caudal spot, but this vanishes as the fish matures.  Red Forest Jewels sport translucent fins with the same color markings as their bodies.  Females will usually have much brighter colors while the males of the species will grow to be larger.