The green of the Montecristo cichlid

The green of the Bá Tước (“Count”) cichlid. English name: Montecristo cichlid — it was discovered in the region of the same name, Mexico. Scientific name: Oscura heterospila, the sole species in the genus Oscura. It used to be classified under Vieja, but was split off as its own genus in 2015. My experience: monotypic genera (a genus with only one species) are almost always exceptional (A. macracanthus, H. psicattus).

The photos are of F1 specimens. In the aquarium world, F1 refers to the first generation of wild fish bred in captivity (in ponds, tanks, glass aquariums).

For me, this is probably the most perfect fish in terms of beauty, temperament, and behavior. That signature green, rarely seen, together with the black spots — each look is an infatuation. The bigger it gets, the more beautiful the colors become. Its temperament is gentle and agreeable. It’s a good parent too. Body nicely rounded and chubby — not from overfeeding; that’s just their shape.