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Tomocichla sieboldii Care Guide

Tomocichla sieboldii, now placed in Talamancaheros, is a rheophilic cichlid from Pacific-slope rivers of Costa Rica and Panama.

Overview

Tomocichla sieboldii, currently placed in the genus Talamancaheros, is a rheophilic Central American cichlid. FishBase records it from the Pacific slope, from Esparza in Costa Rica to the Río Santa María in Panama, where it inhabits moderate to fast-flowing waters.

Taxonomy

  • Family: Cichlidae
  • Genus: Tomocichla
  • Scientific name: Tomocichla sieboldii
  • Common synonyms: Talamancaheros sieboldii

Habitat

It is a freshwater species of moderate to fast-flowing rivers on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and Panama (FishBase).

Tank requirements

  • Minimum tank volume: 350 L
  • Temperature: 24-29 °C (75-84 °F)
  • pH: 7.0-8.0
  • GH: 9-19 °dGH
  • Water flow: strong
  • Maximum size: about 25 cm SL

Diet

It is an omnivore. FishBase reports that juveniles consume primarily aquatic insects, while adults feed on vegetable matter including aufwuchs and algae.

Compatibility

It is a semi-aggressive, mid-water rheophilic species best kept with other Central American stream cichlids or large plecos in a strongly flowing tank; small fish and plants are unsuitable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Data Deficient, assessed in 2019.

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