Description
Festive Cichlid – Vibrant, Peaceful, and Full of Personality
The Festive Cichlid (Mesonauta festivus) is a graceful and colorful South American species known for its peaceful temperament and elegant appearance. Native to the calm, slow-moving rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, this cichlid showcases a soft, silvery body with striking vertical black bands, subtle iridescent highlights, and flowing fins—adding a touch of refined beauty to any freshwater aquarium.
Despite being a cichlid, the Festive Cichlid is notably community-friendly and does well with other peaceful fish. Its calm behavior, manageable size, and schooling nature make it ideal for aquarists seeking a visually appealing yet non-aggressive addition to a planted or South American biotope tank.
Key Features:
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Coloration: Silvery base with vertical black stripes, occasional gold and blue shimmer on the body and fins
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Temperament: Peaceful and social—thrives in groups and community settings
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Size: Grows up to 6 inches
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Tank Requirements: Minimum 40–50 gallons with soft, slightly acidic water, plants, and open swimming space
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Diet: Omnivorous—enjoys high-quality flakes, pellets, and frozen/live foods
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Compatibility: Great with tetras, Corydoras, dwarf cichlids, and other peaceful species
The Festive Cichlid is a charming and harmonious choice for aquarists who want a splash of color and activity without the aggression—offering both visual appeal and a gentle nature in one elegant fish.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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