TankBud

Curve-bar cichlid

Herichthys labridens

Also known as Labridens cichlid, Yellow labridens

FreshwaterFish

Curve-bar cichlid (Herichthys labridens)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
11.8 in
30 cm
Minimum tank
106 gal
400 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Pánuco basin springs, Mexico

Overview

The curve-bar cichlid is a big, muscular Mexican cichlid for a large hard-water tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The curve-bar cichlid's home spring, the Laguna Media Luna, is so clear and blue that it is a well-known diving spot. It breeds in water that looks almost bottled, welling up from the ground over pale limestone.

Caring for the curve-bar cichlid

Keep a single curve-bar cichlid or a breeding pair in a long, heavy tank of at least 106 gal (400 L). Give it a floor of sand it can dig, with sturdy rockwork and plenty of rounded stone for cover and spawning sites. It works the bottom, digging in the sand and crunching snails.

Keep the water hard, alkaline and very clean, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Feed a varied diet with snails, other meaty foods, pellets and some greens.

It becomes very aggressive and protective when it spawns, so choose tank mates with real care and leave room to retreat. It is a substrate spawner, and a pair guards its eggs and fry. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The curve-bar cichlid, Herichthys labridens, is a large Central American cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Its name means wrasse-toothed, for the specialized teeth it uses to crush snails, a favorite food. Breeding fish turn custard-yellow to gold, overlaid with bold black markings. It is threatened in the wild by habitat loss and introduced species.

In the wild

The curve-bar cichlid lives in spring-fed lagoons and headwaters of the upper Panuco basin in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. These springs run hard and alkaline.

Common questions

What size tank does a curve-bar cichlid need?

A curve-bar cichlid needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a curve-bar cichlid need?

A curve-bar cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a curve-bar cichlid eat?

A curve-bar cichlid eats a varied diet with snails, other meaty foods, pellets and some greens.

How big does a curve-bar cichlid get?

An adult curve-bar cichlid reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

How does a curve-bar cichlid breed?

The curve-bar cichlid is a substrate spawner, and a pair guards its eggs and fry. It turns very aggressive and protective when it spawns, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

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