It is a highly predatory species that feeds on smaller fish.
This fish is predatory, territorial and aggressive and becomes even more aggressive at the time of reproduction. It needs to be saved with other large cichlids, preferably all of very similar sizes.
It feeds on other smaller fish and large invertebrates in the wild. In the aquarium they will eagerly accept large live foods such as goldfish, other small fish, crickets, insects, earthworms and tadpoles.