Author: (Günther, 1862)
Remark: According to Loiselle (1979; Ref. 43352) this species would be the true "jewel cichlid" of aquariologists, also used as an experimental animal by physiologists and ethologists and commonly named <i>H. bimaculatus</i> (Ref. 5644).
Comments: Eurytopic; found most frequently in association with stands of emergent or submerged aquatic plants; particularly abundant in shallower and quieter stretches of large rivers, in small lateral tributaries of such streams, in oxbow lakes and in swampy habitats; even maintains breeding populations in coastal lagoons; absent from rapids zone of streams or in headwaters flowing through montane forest (Ref. 43352). Forest-associated species (Ref. 43352, 52307). Pair-bonding, substrate brooders (Ref. 52307, 81260). Aquarium keeping: aggressive species, requires sufficient space to build territories; omnivore; spawns up to 300 eggs which hatch after 2 days, young are free-swimming after 5 days (Ref. 57572).