Care
The Bandit Cichlid is known from the calm tropical waters of inland creeks and the back currents of cascades. Here the adults are found in abundance (in harems consisting of one male and several females) along the shallow banks, and over stony substrates. An aquarium for these fish should be furnished with a soft sand substrate and various smooth rocks and driftwood positioned to form caves and visual barriers. There should be calm zones as well as areas of swift current, which can be created by using powerheads and decor to create shelters from the current they create. Although Bandit Cichlids are relatively peaceful and fairly shy (except during spawning), they are not suitable for placing into a general community tank with small fish. However, they are very gregarious and should be kept in groups of 6 or more for their continued wellbeing. There may be minor territorial quarrels between males, but no real damage should ensue, particularly if there are plenty of visual barriers amongst the decor. Tankmates should be of a similar size and temperament, and not overly aggressive. Be aware that these cichlids will dig into the substrate to create caves and pits (so do ensure that the decor cannot be undermined), and therefore aquatic plants do not tend to cope very well with such behaviour, tending to become uprooted. There are several Guianacara species that are imported under the catch-all Bandit Cichlid nametag, and all have very similar requirements as detailed above. The majority that are labelled as G. geayi are actually other species. LÃpez-Fernández has provided a concise pictorial key to all the species in a scientific paper, with the main diagnostic characters (in adult fish) being the mid-lateral bar, the mid-lateral spot, and the presence/absence of dark membranes on the first 3 or 4 anterior rays of the spiny dorsal fin. It is summarised as follows: G. geayi - wide midlateral bar, no midlateral spot, and no black on membranes of anterior dorsal fin rays, G. cuyunii - thin midlateral bar, no spot, black on dorsal fin membranes, G. dacrya - thin midlateral bar, midlateral spot, unique infraorbital stripe, white spots on the spiny portion of the dorsal fin, black on membranes of anterior dorsal fin rays, G. oelemariensis - no midlateral bar, spot below lateral line, black on dorsal fin membranes, G. owroewefi - wide midlateral bar, spot on and below lateral line, black on dorsal fin membranes, G. sphenozona - midlateral bar present, spot above lateral line, no black on dorsal fin membranes, G. stergiosi - thin midlateral bar, spot below lateral line, black on dorsal fin membranes. In addition, there are also many currently undescribed Guianacara species known from north-eastern Brazil.
Feeding
Offer a variety of frozen foods such as vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, white mosquito larvae, bloodworm, Mysis, daphnia, and various dried foods such as flake, green flake, crisps, slow sinking granules, and cichlid pellets.
Breeding
Bandit Cichlids are cave spawners and are fairly easy to breed in the home aquarium. You will need to provide them with a selection of caves - terracotta flowerpots on their sides can work very well in this respect. When ready to spawn, the female will clean the surfaces of the cave and then entice/court the male. She will lay her eggs (numbering up to 500) on the vertical surfaces of the cave, and the male will simultaneously fertilise them. The female tends to take on the majority of care duties, but the male often joins in protecting the young.
