Cupid cichlid

Biotodoma cupido

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–86°F (20–30°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Adult size: 4.7 in (12 cm)
Minimum tank: 53 gal (200 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Brazil
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

The cupid cichlid is a peaceful eartheater that lives in groups, so plan to keep at least five or six together and let them sort out a loose pecking order. It is a sensitive fish that needs clean, stable water and calm tankmates such as tetras, pencilfish, hatchetfish and other gentle Amazonian species. It spends much of its time near the bottom, taking mouthfuls of sand and sifting out small food items, so a soft sandy floor is essential to protect its delicate mouth and gills. Feed small sinking foods along with frozen and live items such as brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm. A tank of at least 200 liters with open sand, some wood and gentle current gives a group the space it needs to feel secure and forage naturally.

In the wild

The cupid cichlid is found across the Amazon basin through Peru, Bolivia, Guyana and Brazil, living over sand and leaf litter in slow river margins and flooded areas. Depending on locality the water ranges from soft and acidic blackwater to slightly harder clearwater, but it is always warm and gently flowing. Aim for a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 and a temperature of 20 to 30 C, with soft to moderately soft water. A fine sandy substrate is the most important feature, along with driftwood, leaf litter and some shade to mimic the sheltered backwaters it prefers.

Good to know

Biotodoma cupido belongs to the cichlid family, Cichlidae, and grows to around 12 cm. It is one of the eartheaters, a group that feeds by taking sand into the mouth and sieving out edible morsels through the gills. It is a bi-parental substrate spawner, laying around a hundred eggs on a cleaned flat rock or firm surface, after which the female tends the clutch while the male patrols the surrounding territory. Breeding in the aquarium is challenging, since the fish are fussy about water quality and pairs do not always raise their first spawns successfully.

Did you know

The cupid cichlid is marked by a dark spot high on the flank below the dorsal fin and a diagonal stripe through the eye. As an eartheater it constantly sifts sand for food, so a soft sandy bottom is far better for it than gravel.