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A dive into the venerable Innes book while sitting down to a relaxing evening meal produced (on page 387) an article on a fish called the "Chanchito", a native of Brazil listed in the book as cichlasoma facetum (this name is almost certainly now invalid after the Kullander revision). Here's what Innes has to say about this fish:

The Chanchito is one of the older friends of modern aquarists, and one of the most dependable. It will stand a temperature of 60 [Fahrenheit] without trouble, is a sure breeder, an excellent parent, a fish that lives long and is easy to feed. The first Cichlid domesticated - 1884.

Perhaps not so showy as some other of the large Cichlids, it is a fish of distinction and of interesting variation in colour. Uusually the background is horn-colour overlaid with the black pattern seen in the illustration. The body colour sometimes becomes almost black. The eyes are strikingly red, but the depth of their colour varies in individuals. This is one of the few Cichlids which does not show any metallic spangles.

Except at breeding time the Chanchito is not a pugnacious fish, although the larger specimens are too big for the average community tank.

In breeding and habits it is typical of the description for the group. It is well suited to summer culture in pools in states of temperate climate. Large broods can be so raised with little attention.

So, here is a fish that has, allegedly, been around in our aquaria since way back in 1884 (can you imagine what an 1884 vintage aquarium must be like?) but any attempt to garner information on the species results almost exclusively in Brazilian websites. This page is a typical example, though it has the additional merit of a full colour photograph of a pair spawning.

First of all, I'm surprised to discover that a Brazilian native is capable of surviving temperatures as low as 60°F. Now something like a Texas Cichlid that occupies the northerly extremes of the range of the Cichlid family, I can understand, but a tropical Brazilian withstanding 60°F? The figure of 26°C quoted on that Brazilian page looks MUCH more believable! However, if the species was indeed domesticated back in 1884, it must have been hardy enough to withstand 60°F ... so, anyone know more about this?

This English Page says quite a bit about them - some of it at variance with dear old Innes, namely that they're capable of beating up Dempseys and take no prisoners! Plus, one Portuguese poster on that site says they're surviving alien introductions in southern Portugal, of all places!

Second, although they've acquired a brace of common names over time, including "Chameleon Cichlid" and "White Convict" (anyone know what on earth 'Chanchito' translates to?) they seem to have disappeared off the radar, so to speak, among the Cichlids in circulation. Which, for something that is hardy, tough, and a sure breeder, seems a bit odd. Anyone seen this fish in life?

Now that I've seen the colour photo, I like this fish a LOT. Anyone here got any? Post pics if so!

Edited because of seriously borked links


Last edited by Calilasseia at 03-Oct-2005 18:43

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

That's a very nice cichlid, awesome colors !
Here's a nice photo

[link=http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_facetum.php]http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_facetum.php" style="COLOR: #FFFFFF[/link]

The Amazon Nut...

they bare a striking resemblance to the rainbow cichlid (herotilapia multispinosa) imo. maybe its resemblance to sucha common cichlid is why there isn't much demand for them.

Jeff Rapps doesn't have C. facetum available at this time, but he does currently have in stock a couple of other (probably more colorful) chanchitos Cichlasoma amazonarum and Cichlasoma oblongus.

cichlasoma facetum (this name is almost certainly now invalid after the Kullander revision)

actually, that name is still valid. it used to be that the name "Cichlasoma" could be used as a synonym for pretty much any new world cichlid. what Kullander did was make the name Cichlasoma invalid for all species other than the chanchitos of south america. so it is no longer correct to use the name Cichlasoma in place of Herichthys, Archocentrus, Nandopsis, Amphilophus etc. but rather if one is unsure of the proper genus name, the Herichthys genus can be used as a synonym. so technically it is incorrect to refer to say the midas cichlid as Cichlasoma citrinellus though Herichthys citrinellus would be acceptable (even though Amphilophus citrinellus is correct).

I take it then Jason that the correct taxonomic information is on the Ad Konings site? Also, am I likely to find subsidiary information there - ideally by the likes of Juan Miguel Artigas Azas and Dr Paul Loiselle? Only that would be a major bonus if so. I take it also that site will have the 'true' Cichlasoma species correctly labelled?

I'm still amazed that a fish from Brazil is cited by innes (who knew what he was talking about back in those days) as being capable of withstanding 60°F temperatures though ... however, if it was first domesticated way back in 1884, it must have been pretty tough, because I can only hazard a guess as to how primitve the technology in an 1884 vintage aquarium must have been ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I don't know about Ad Koning's site, but here is a link to where I go to for (what I presume to be) the most updated taxonomic information regarding cichlids. [link=This]http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery/default.php" style="COLOR: #000080[/link] is the site of Juan Miguel Artigas Azaz. You'll find each cichlid genus categorized by location (African, North American, Central American etc).