Firemouth Cichlid care guide
Firemouth Cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) — minimum tank 200 L, temperature 24-28 °C, pH 6.5-8.
Overview
The Firemouth Cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is a medium-sized Central American cichlid named for the brilliant red colour that develops on the throat, gill cover and lower jaw of mature males. Coloration intensifies during territorial display when males flare the gill membranes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Thorichthys
- Scientific name: Thorichthys meeki
- Common synonyms: Firemouth Meeki
Habitat
Native to rivers and lakes of the Atlantic slope of southern Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula), Belize and northern Guatemala, including the Usumacinta and Belize river systems. Inhabits warm, slow to moderately moving water with sandy bottoms, submerged wood and rock structure.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L (52.8 US gal)
- Adult size: 12-15 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.5-8
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
An omnivore that takes invertebrates, plant material and small crustaceans in the wild. In aquaria it accepts quality cichlid pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and chopped mussel; vegetable matter such as spirulina flake completes the diet.
Compatibility
Less aggressive than most Central American cichlids; suitable in a large community with similarly sized robust species — Convict, Salvini, Bristlenose Pleco, large tetras. Territorial when paired and spawning but rarely seriously damaging to dither fish if enough cover is provided.
Breeding
A substrate spawner. Pairs clean a flat rock or pit, lay several hundred eggs and form classic biparental broodcare; both parents fan the eggs and shepherd the free-swimming fry around the territory.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species has a broad and stable distribution across its native range.