Data sheet firemouth cichlid
German name:
firemouth cichlid
Scientific name:
Thorichthys meeki
Origin:
Central America (Rio Usumacinta, Belize River and at Progreso)
Size:
at least 6 cm to a maximum of 17 cm
Aquarium
Length:
at least 130 cm edge length
Contents:
from 250 liters content
water values
Temperature:
between 22°C and 25°C
pH:
6.5 and 7.5 pH
GH:
5 and 15°dGH
Behave
Area:
lower area, ground level and middle area
Lining:
Live food, red mosquito larvae, frozen food, Artemia
Behave:
Territory-forming, aggressive, socialization with other peaceful fish possible
Number:
as a pair
Difficulty level:
Beginner
Keeping firemouth cichlids
© Christian Wimmer / Firemouth Cichlid
Firemouth cichlids, Thorichthys meeki, show a pronounced breeding behavior. During the spawning season they have a bright red chest. The pool equipment is adapted to the needs. i.e. depending on the individual, the ground is more or less dug up. The entire aquarium can be rebuilt.
Firemouth cichlids grow up to 20 centimeters in size. Breeding from the Far East is said to remain smaller and more robust.
Firemouth cichlids form territories and a pair requires an aquarium with at least 240 liters of water. In the spawning season, all other fish can be terrorized. If a pair vehemently protects its brood from access by hungry housemates, they can be badly injured. You don’t even have to get very close to the school of juvenile fish. The male also attacks as a precaution, in order to ensure that the situation is clear.
Outside the spawning season, firemouth cichlids are not interested in larger other fish. Then a couple is more likely to argue among themselves. For example, a male hunted two females to death in a 500 liter tank. Other firemouth cichlids can also be hunted.
Firemouth cichlids must not be kept together with other animals that are too small. They eat animals up to 1/5 their size. e.g. B. whole guppies, neons, young catfish and also 1 centimeter large apple snails.
In a 450 liter tank together with Archocentrus nigrofasciatus it is absolutely awesome to see when the red and the black threaten each other. The courtship behavior of the fire-mouth cichlids is also magnificent to look at.
Firemouth cichlids are strong burrowers. A large 500 liter aquarium can be completely transformed into a construction site, with craters and mounds.
In particular, when they are in the mood for spawning, they completely remodel their home. Sometimes they pile up mountains of gravel about 10 centimeters high. Of course, the surrounding plants also suffer and do not get stuck in the ground. Plants, on the other hand, are not eaten. If the plants are placed in such a way that they do not disturb the firemouth cichlids, the plants will not be damaged.
gender differences
The fin ends are extended in the males. In the females, the fin ends are round. The abdomen of the female is rounder in the longitudinal and transverse direction than that of the male.
rearing
During the first rearing attempts, the parents often eat the eggs. Rearing usually works on the third or fourth attempt. Because the parents defend the young well, rearing in a community tank is possible. The other fish also awaken the brood care instincts of the parents.
The young are quite small. It must therefore be fed with powdered food and artemia nauplii. Liquid food for young fish is also suitable. Crushed flake food can be given later. As always, live food is the best food. In some cases, the parent animals also chew up larger food animals and give them to the offspring.
An algae lawn in the breeding tank is beneficial. The young peck at the smallest organisms there.
In the community tank, the feed, e.g. B. nauplii, are injected directly into the school of young fish. To do this, a regular syringe is extended with a tube.