Banded jewelfish

Hemichromis fasciatus

Also known as Hemichromis frempongi, Five-spot jewel

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 6.5–7.8
Adult size: 9.8 in (25 cm)
Minimum tank: 119 gal (450 L)
Temperament: Aggressive
Social behavior: Solitary
Tankmates: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: West Africa, Senegal to Ghana
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

This is the big, predatory member of the jewel cichlid group, closer in behavior to a Central American guapote than to the small red jewels. It is powerful and aggressive, so keep it as a single fish or a bonded pair and never crowd it. It hunts along the bottom and will eat smaller fish, so choose tankmates with real caution: only large, robust species stand a chance, and a species tank is often the safest option. Provide sturdy cover with wood and rock, and expect it to rearrange things. Feed meaty foods such as prawn, mussel, earthworms, and quality pellets. Give it at least 450 liters with a strong lid and solid decor.

In the wild

It ranges widely across the rivers, lakes, and lagoons of West Africa, from Senegal down to Ghana, hunting in warm, often soft to neutral water. Recreate that with a temperature of 23 to 27 C and a chemistry around pH 6.5 to 7.8. It is not fussy about layout, but a mix of driftwood, rock caves, and some hardy or artificial plants gives smaller fish cover and gives the jewel a territory to claim.

Good to know

A member of the cichlid family, it reaches around 25 cm, making it one of the largest jewel cichlids and a true fish-eater with a large mouth and strong teeth. In 2022 many of the smaller red jewels were moved to a new genus, Rubricatochromis, while this predatory species kept the older name Hemichromis. It is a substrate spawner that forms pairs, with moderate breeding difficulty.

Did you know

The jewel cichlids split into two camps in 2022. The small, fiery red species went to the new genus Rubricatochromis, while the larger banded predators like this one stayed behind in Hemichromis, holding both the old name and the bigger teeth.