TankBud

Arrow midas cichlid

Amphilophus sagittae

Also known as Sagittae cichlid, Xiloa midas

FreshwaterFish

Arrow midas cichlid (Amphilophus sagittae)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
7.0–8.2
Adult size
7.5 in
19 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Xiloá, Nicaragua

Overview

The arrow midas cichlid is a robust midas-type cichlid from a single crater lake in Nicaragua. It is strong and territorial, and it takes some experience to keep well.

Did you know

The arrow midas cichlid's home, Lake Xiloa, is a young crater lake. Its midas cichlids are a textbook example of species still forming. In this fish, gold and dark individuals sometimes pair up together, one reason biologists study the flock so closely.

Caring for the arrow midas cichlid

Give an arrow midas cichlid at least 119 gal (450 L), since a pair needs room to hold a territory. Build the tank around solid rock structure, with ledges for spawning caves. Add a sand floor and enough open water, because this fish also ventures away from cover. It swims mostly in the lower half of the tank.

Match the crater-lake water with a neutral to hard, slightly alkaline chemistry. Keep it at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) with a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Feed a varied omnivore diet of quality pellets and frozen foods, with some vegetable matter.

The arrow midas cichlid behaves like its larger relatives and is best kept as a bonded pair or a single fish, not a group. It turns very defensive around a chosen spawning site, so give it space and choose tank mates with caution. Favor other sturdy Central American cichlids over anything small or timid.

Pairs bond and spawn in caves under the rock ledges. Getting a pair to breed is moderately hard.

Good to know

The arrow midas cichlid belongs to the midas cichlid complex of the Nicaraguan lakes, in the family Cichlidae. Its name sagittae is Latin for arrow, for a slimmer, more streamlined body than the other midas cichlids of Lake Xiloa. It comes in a normal barred form and a bright gold morph.

In the wild

The arrow midas cichlid is found only in Lake Xiloa, a small crater lake in western Nicaragua. It lives over sand near rocky slopes, at moderate depth.

Common questions

What size tank does an arrow midas cichlid need?

An arrow midas cichlid needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an arrow midas cichlid need?

An arrow midas cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does an arrow midas cichlid eat?

An arrow midas cichlid eats a varied omnivore diet of quality pellets and frozen foods. Add some vegetable matter as well.

How big does an arrow midas cichlid get?

An adult arrow midas cichlid reaches about 7.5 in (19 cm).

How does an arrow midas cichlid breed?

Arrow midas cichlids form bonded pairs and spawn in caves, such as those under rock ledges. A pair turns very defensive around its chosen site. Breeding them is of moderate difficulty.

Related species