Although still included as a highly aberrant member of Cichlasoma by FishBase,[2] other authorities such as Catalog of Fishes have moved it to the genus Amphilophus.

The male is much larger than the female growing up to 15" he has longer more pointed fins and a large red spot behind his gills.

[2] It has been found as an introduced species in Florida and Nevada but these populations were extirpated,[4] and in Singapore.

[5] The three spot cichlid feeds mainly on small fishes and invertebrates, including both aquatic and terrestrial insects.

[2] The pair usually select a flat stone and spawn on that, both parents guard the eggs fiercely and will also tend the fry after they have hatched.