Wolf Cichlid Care Guide
Parachromis dovii is a large piscivorous cichlid from Central America that reaches 72 cm and requires a very large tank for an apex predator.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Parachromis dovii, the wolf cichlid or guapote, is a large predatory cichlid of the family Cichlidae from Central America. It is one of the largest Central American cichlids, reaching 72 cm in total length and a maximum published weight of 6.8 kg. It is an apex predator requiring very large aquariums.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Parachromis
- Scientific name: Parachromis dovii
Habitat
The species occurs on both slopes of Central America: on the Atlantic slope from the Aguan River in Honduras to the Moín River in Costa Rica, and on the Pacific slope from the Yeguare River in Honduras to the Bebedero River in Costa Rica. It is a freshwater demersal fish of lakes and river valleys, described as an avid cavern digger.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1000 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Lifespan: 12-18 years
Diet
Parachromis dovii is piscivorous, feeding mainly on fish and also consuming crustaceans and insects in smaller quantities. In the aquarium it should receive a carnivorous diet of meaty foods appropriate to its size.
Compatibility
The wolf cichlid is highly aggressive and predatory. Because of its size and temperament it is difficult to house with other fish; most tankmates risk being eaten or attacked. It is generally kept alone or in a carefully managed pair in a very large tank.
Breeding
The species is a substrate spawner. According to FishBase it produces roughly 1,000-1,500 eggs and reaches sexual maturity at about 15 months and 20 cm in length. Males are reported to show altruism toward males of other species while tending the young.
Conservation status
According to FishBase, Parachromis dovii is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessed 2019).
Wolf Cichlid Breeding Guide
Overview
Parachromis dovii is one of the largest and most aggressive Central American cichlids, native to lakes, rivers and streams in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica (Wikipedia). FishBase records it on the Atlantic slope from the Aguan River (Honduras) to the Moin River (Costa Rica) and on the Pacific slope from the Yeguare River (Honduras) to the Bebedero River (Costa Rica). It is an oviparous, biparental substrate spawner and an avid cavern digger.
Sexing
Males grow much larger than females; the species reaches up to 80 cm long and 14 kg in weight (Wikipedia), with FishBase listing a maximum of 72 cm total length. Sexual maturity is reached at about 15 months and 20 cm (FishBase). As in related Parachromis, the larger size and more developed fins of males help distinguish the sexes.
Breeding Setup
This species requires a very large tank with a sand substrate and flat surfaces or excavated sites for spawning, reflecting its habit of digging caverns (FishBase). Reported environment values are a temperature range of 21-37 °C, pH from 7.0 upward and hardness up to about 20 dH (FishBase).
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
As an oviparous substrate spawner, a pair deposits eggs on a cleaned surface or in an excavated site and both parents guard the brood. FishBase notes that males show altruism toward the young even alongside other species while tending them.
Egg & Fry Care
A spawn produces about 1000-1500 eggs (FishBase). Both parents tend the eggs and resulting fry. Given the species' high aggression, raising fry in a dedicated tank reduces conflict with tank mates.
Common Challenges
The species displays high levels of aggression even by cichlid standards (Wikipedia), so pairing must be managed carefully and an incompatible partner may be harmed. Its large adult size makes both a breeding tank and grow-out space demanding.