TankBud

Blue flash firemouth

Thorichthys aureus

Also known as Aureus cichlid, Gold firemouth

FreshwaterFish

Blue flash firemouth (Thorichthys aureus)
Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
7.0–8.2
Adult size
7.1 in
18 cm
Minimum tank
66 gal
250 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Atlantic slope, Guatemala and Belize

Overview

The blue flash firemouth is the showiest of the firemouths and no harder to keep than the common one. Its threat display is the reason to own it, and it suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The blue flash firemouth's species name, aureus, means golden. The fish shows turquoise, not gold, so the name points to the wrong metal.

Caring for the blue flash firemouth

Keep a pair in at least 66 gal (250 L), with sand, stone and cover. Give them neutral to hard water at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Clean water matters more to this genus than to most Central American cichlids. Feed pellets and frozen foods.

The blue flash firemouth flares its gill covers to make its head look several times larger. It does this at rivals, at other fish and at your hand. It is mild outside breeding, but choose tank mates with care.

Like all firemouths, it is a substrate spawner, and both parents stand guard. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Thorichthys aureus is spangled turquoise over an apricot body, brighter than the familiar Thorichthys meeki. Its gill-flare display doubles as a bluff against predators, not just rivals.

In the wild

Thorichthys aureus lives over sand and stone in clear rivers on the Atlantic slope of Guatemala and Belize. The water there is warm and moderately hard.

Common questions

What size tank does a blue flash firemouth need?

A blue flash firemouth needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a blue flash firemouth need?

A blue flash firemouth is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does a blue flash firemouth eat?

A blue flash firemouth eats pellets and frozen foods.

How big does a blue flash firemouth get?

An adult blue flash firemouth reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).

How does a blue flash firemouth breed?

The blue flash firemouth is a substrate spawner, like all firemouths, and both parents stand guard. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Related species