Calobre cichlid
Darienheros calobrensis
Also known as Cichlasoma calobrense
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–84°F
- 24–29°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.2
- Adult size
- 9.8 in
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 106 gal
- 400 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Eastern Panama rivers
Overview
The Calobre cichlid is a large, robust river cichlid from eastern Panama. It is a fish for keepers past the beginner stage.
Did you know
The Calobre cichlid lives around the Darien, a roadless stretch of jungle between Panama and Colombia. The Pan-American Highway breaks off there and never reconnects. That remote home is a big reason the fish is rarely seen in the hobby.
Caring for the Calobre cichlid
Give a Calobre cichlid at least 106 gal (400 L), with a sand or fine gravel floor. Add driftwood and rock for cover and territory, and leave some open floor. It spends its time in the lower half of the tank.
Keep the water at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2, with steady filtration. Feed a varied, carnivore-leaning diet of quality pellets, frozen mysis and krill, earthworms and larger frozen foods.
It is not a group fish, so keep a single fish or a bonded pair with its own territory. It is reasonably calm for a big cichlid but firm around a nest. Choose sturdy tank mates, and give it plenty of space and cover.
It is a substrate spawner, and breeding it is moderately difficult. A pair lays its eggs on a cleaned surface and guards the young together.
Good to know
The Calobre cichlid belongs to the cichlid family and is the only species in its genus, Darienheros. The genus was created for it when the old catch-all genus Cichlasoma was broken up. Adults are speckled over a bronze base.
In the wild
The Calobre cichlid lives in rain-forest rivers of eastern Panama, toward the Darien on the Pacific slope. The water there is warm and gently flowing, and it runs neutral to slightly hard.
Common questions
What size tank does a Calobre cichlid need?
A Calobre cichlid needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Calobre cichlid need?
A Calobre cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
What does a Calobre cichlid eat?
A Calobre cichlid eats a varied, carnivore-leaning diet. Feed it quality pellets, frozen mysis and krill, earthworms and larger frozen foods.
How big does a Calobre cichlid get?
An adult Calobre cichlid reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
How does a Calobre cichlid breed?
Calobre cichlids are substrate spawners. A pair lays its eggs on a cleaned surface and guards the young together, and breeding them is moderately difficult.
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