The three dark blotches touching this line are framed in white. The rounded caudal fin of the male has a faint red and blue checker board pattern. The dorsal and anal fin is mostly blue with red highlights, finishing with a black margin. The body coloration is olive to tan with some bluish highlights. Dark patches spread across the upper half of the body.
Females have the T-bar pattern, but lack the reds and blues in the fins.
Her fins are considerably more rounded than the males David Soares, nationally known breeder and speaker, brought several species of dwarf cichlids to the Oct 97 meeting. When he told me that he had the T-bars I jumped at the chance. They were placed in a twenty gallon tank with lots of Java moss. I fed them mostly baby brine shrimp, and a little flake food. Several caves were provided as spawning sites and shelter for their comfort.