It is original of the amazonian river basin, although it has been transplanted to other river basins and is it in the region of the Pantanal, the low river San Francisco in Brazil and has been registered it in Itaipú in the Parana stop. It is an emblematic fish of Brazil, as he is it the gilded one in the Argentine north, and is present in all the actions of promotion of the sport fishing of the neighboring country. It presents a great combat efficiency and the taking of the decoy is specially violent. On the other hand it is a gorgeous fish, that added to the great bearings that reach it positions as one of the most attractive fish for the sport inner water fishing. They exist around fourteen species and in some of them the adults can reach bearings of more of a meter. The body is very robust and colorful. Yellow, sometimes sometimes greenish, turning to red, the gray one and with black spots, one of which is very remarkable and is surrounded by pull ahead clear (ocelo) in the end of pedúnculo of great volume. It is a more or less sedentary species and like other cíclidos, at the time of the reproduction, they make nests and they are jealous caretakers of his prole. Their main food is the fish and shrimps. Its form is very characteristic to hunt in which it undertakes one long persecution of his prey and not very often stop in trying its capture. This behavior is one of the attractiveness that adds its fishing, specially when the used decoys are of surface, and the attack by the approach can be anticipated that makes almost outside the water. Average equipment to guaranteeing their capture is used heavy.