The Cichlid Room Companion

Lore & Background

The site was created and is administered by naturalist, aquarist, and nature photographer Juan Miguel Artigas-Azas. In 2008, the American Cichlid Association (ACA) awarded him the Guy Jordan Retrospective Award, the association's highest honor for contributions to the international cichlid hobby. The CRC's species profiles include taxonomic, distribution and habitat, distribution maps, conservation, natural history, captive maintenance, images, videos, collection records, and an extensive bibliography, prepared by world-class specialists following a documented standard.

The CRC has been acknowledged in formal scientific literature as a source of data and information, and for raising awareness among fish hobbyists about topics such as invasive species releases and ethical behavior. Some articles have been cited as primary sources in scholarly literature. However, the site has faced criticism: its editor lacks formal training in systematics or an advanced degree in ichthyology, and as of January 2015, the catalogue displayed a disclaimer stating it is not to be considered published for nomenclatural purposes. Critics have accused the site of censoring taxonomic information based on the editor's personal views, for example regarding the synonymy of Paraneetroplus and Vieja, the validity of Maylandia versus Metriaclima, the split of genus Nosferatu from Herichthys, and the review of herichthyn taxonomy. Some of these views were later corroborated by the scientific community (e.g., Nosferatu considered a junior synonym of Herichthys), while others were not initially accepted (e.g., the synonymy of Vieja and Paraneetroplus was later proven not synonymous in 2016).

Reader's Guide

The Cichlid Room Companion occupies a notable position at the intersection of hobbyist and scientific communities. Its educational and citizen science role has been recognized in formal scientific literature, both as a source of data and for promoting awareness about invasive species and ethical practices among fish hobbyists. While primarily a popular resource, some of its articles have academic value and have been cited as primary sources in scholarly literature. However, the site operates outside the traditional peer-review system; hobby publications are considered non-scientific literature, and nomenclatural acts published there are viewed as questionable by the scientific community. The editor's lack of formal training in systematics has drawn criticism, and the site has been accused of censoring taxonomic information based on personal views. The inclusion of a disclaimer as of January 2015—stating that the catalogue is not to be considered published for nomenclatural purposes—reflects this tension. The CRC's legacy is thus dual: it serves as a valuable resource for cichlid enthusiasts and contributes to public understanding of science, yet its authority in formal taxonomy remains contested.

Did You Know?

• The site was launched in May 1996.
• The American Cichlid Association awarded its founder the Guy Jordan Retrospective Award in 2008.