Tomocichla tuba Care Guide
Tomocichla tuba is a rheophilic Central American cichlid from fast-flowing Atlantic-slope rivers of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Tomocichla tuba is a rheophilic Central American cichlid. FishBase records it from the Atlantic slope, from the Escondido River in Nicaragua to the Cricamola River in Panama, where it inhabits moderate to fast-flowing rivers with high water velocity.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Tomocichla
- Scientific name: Tomocichla tuba
Habitat
It lives in fast-moving waters on the Atlantic slope of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, occupying rivers with high current velocity (FishBase, Wikipedia).
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L
- Temperature: 23-27 °C (73-81 °F)
- pH: 6.8-8.0
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Water flow: strong
- Maximum size: about 30 cm TL
Diet
It is an omnivore. FishBase reports that adults consume aquatic plants, algae and fruits, while juveniles are partial to aquatic insects.
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, well-oxygenated tank; small fish and plants are unsuitable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2019.
Tomocichla tuba Breeding Guide
Overview
Tomocichla tuba (Meek, 1912) is a cichlid of the Atlantic slope of Central America, recorded from the Escondido River in Nicaragua to the Cricamola River in Panama and also reported from Costa Rica. It is associated with fast-moving waters and reaches a total length of about 30 cm (12 in). Historical synonyms include Cichlasoma tuba and Theraps underwoodi. Juveniles feed on aquatic insects while adults consume aquatic plants, algae and fruits.
Breeding Setup
FishBase lists water parameters of pH 6.8-8.0, hardness from about 4 dH upward and a temperature range of 23-33 degrees C for this benthopelagic, freshwater species. Because it is a large fish from high-velocity rivers, a breeding tank should be roomy and provide strong, well-oxygenated current, clean water and a sand substrate with rocks. The Aquairi record classifies the species as a substrate spawner of intermediate breeding difficulty, so flat stones and sheltered surfaces serve as potential spawning sites.
Common Challenges
The principal challenges are the adult size and the demand for vigorous flow and high oxygen levels, which require large tanks and powerful filtration. Detailed published spawn sizes and fry-development times from the sources consulted are not available and are omitted rather than estimated.