Also called the Macaw, Parrot or Butterfly Cichlid, Nicaraguan Cichlids are a popular species among Cichlid keepers. These fish are Central American Cichlids, native to Nicaragua and Costa Rica where they tend to inhabit slow-flowing waters such as lakes and rivers. This species of Cichlid exists in several different color forms, depending on locality. Most specimens exhibit gold or copper coloration accented with an iridescent blue color in the head region. Many Nicaraguan Cichlids also have dark spots on the fins as well as a dark band running along the lateral line.