Also called the Lyretail Checkerboard Cichlid, the Chessboard Cichlid is not often seen in the aquarium hobby. Tank raised specimens are not that common in the local fish stores, but a specialty dealer might be found with a little digging on the internet. These fish are named for the dark blotches ornamenting the sides of their bodies which resemble the pattern on a chessboard. The overall coloration of most specimens is light brown and many Chessboard Cichlids exhibit light blue stripes edging on the dorsal and caudal fins. This species is native to South America and can be found in the Rio Negro and Upper Rio Orinoco basins in Brazil, Venezuela and Columbia. These fish tend to inhabit small forest streams where the bottom is covered with a branches, roots and leaf litter.