Pasion Cichlid (Thorichthys pasionis) Care Guide
Thorichthys pasionis is a small firemouth relative from the Usumacinta drainage of Mexico and Guatemala, with a metallic iridescent body.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Thorichthys pasionis is a small Central American cichlid related to the firemouth, with a metallic, iridescent body. FishBase records a maximum standard length of about 17 cm. It is less commonly traded than some other Thorichthys.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Thorichthys
- Scientific name: Thorichthys pasionis
Habitat
The species occurs on the Atlantic slope of Central America in the Usumacinta River drainage of Mexico and Guatemala. FishBase describes it as a benthopelagic freshwater fish of rivers and lakes with softer bottoms, at temperatures of 26-30 °C, pH 8.0-9.0 and hardness 5 dH or higher.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
Diet
It is an omnivorous, benthic feeder (FishBase trophic level about 3.3, estimated from close relatives). In the aquarium it accepts a varied diet of live, frozen and prepared foods.
Compatibility
It is a semi-aggressive cichlid that can be kept with robust community species in a planted tank. Very small tetras and overly aggressive cichlids are best avoided.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018).
Thorichthys pasionis Breeding Guide
Overview
Thorichthys pasionis is a Central American cichlid distributed in Mexico and Guatemala, in rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico from the Grijalva to the Candelaria, where it favours slow-flowing lower reaches and lagoons. It is a relative of the firemouth and breeds as a biparental substrate spawner. According to AquaInfo it is considered easy to breed in the aquarium.
Sexing
Males reach substantially larger sizes than females, attaining up to about 17 cm, while females stay noticeably smaller. Females in breeding condition appear more rounded; both sexes adopt a contrasting barred spawning pattern as the pair forms.
Conditioning
Mature pairs typically form during the warmer, lower-flow period of the year, and the species is monogamous. Maintaining clean, warm water and a varied diet supports condition. Reported breeding parameters are a temperature of 25-30 C (minimum about 25 C), pH 7.5-9.0 with alkaline water preferred, and hardness around 5-15 dGH.
Breeding Setup
- Provide a flat, smooth horizontal or slightly sloping surface in a sheltered spot for egg deposition.
- Flower pots are readily accepted; the species also accepts vertical surfaces.
- Use sand substrate so the pair can excavate nursery pits.
- A minimum tank of around 200 L suits a pair of this size.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The female deposits eggs in small batches; after each batch the male passes over to release milt, and the sequence repeats. Eggs are placed a little apart rather than in a dense cluster, an adaptation linked to oxygen-poor water. Adult pairs can produce over five hundred eggs, with reported clutches of roughly 100-500.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are yellowish, adhesive and small (to about 1.7 mm) and hatch within roughly 72 hours. The parents move the larvae to a pre-dug pit in the substrate while they absorb their yolk sacs, and the pair provides extended care of the free-swimming fry.
Common Challenges
As with related firemouth-type cichlids, pairs become territorial during breeding and may turn on tankmates or each other; provide line-of-sight breaks and monitor the pair. First spawns from young fish are often smaller and may be eaten before the pair settles into reliable parental behaviour.