Filter-feeding cichlid
Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Filter feeder
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lower Amazon floodplain lakes
Overview
The filter-feeding cichlid is a gentle, disc-shaped cichlid for the middle of a calm, soft-water tank. It is a fish for a keeper with some experience.
Caring for the filter-feeding cichlid
Keep filter-feeding cichlids in a small group, since they are social, peaceful fish. Give them at least 79 gal (300 L) with open swimming space, a soft substrate, gentle flow and some wood or leaf litter.
Keep the water warm and soft to neutral, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed frequent small servings of live and frozen foods they can strain from the water, such as daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp.
The filter-feeding cichlid is so mild that it needs equally polite tank mates, ones that will not outrace it to food or bully it. Its calm nature is easy to take advantage of, so feed carefully.
Like related cichlids, it is expected to guard its young. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The filter-feeding cichlid, Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis, belongs to the cichlid family. Its rounded, deep body gives it the species name orbicularis.
In the wild
Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis lives in the floodplain lakes of the lower Amazon, off the main river. The water there is still, warm and rich in plankton, and the fish drifts through these quiet backwaters as it filters its meals.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The filter-feeding cichlid is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Bolivian ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Gallagher's catfish
Rhinodoras gallagheri
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Narrow hatchetfish
Triportheus angulatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Chameleon whiptail
Pseudohemiodon apithanos
Freshwater6.7 in (17 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a filter-feeding cichlid need?
A filter-feeding cichlid needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a filter-feeding cichlid need?
A filter-feeding cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a filter-feeding cichlid eat?
A filter-feeding cichlid eats frequent small servings of live and frozen foods it can strain from the water. Daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp all suit it.
How big does a filter-feeding cichlid get?
An adult filter-feeding cichlid reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
Related species
5.9 in (15 cm)65 gal (245 L)81–88°F (27–31°C)Blue diamond discus
Symphysodon tarzoo
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5.9 in (15 cm)65 gal (245 L)79–90°F (26–32°C)Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
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5.9 in (15 cm)37 gal (140 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Flag cichlid
Mesonauta festivus
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6.3 in (16 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Rainbow cichlid
Herotilapia multispinosa
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4.7 in (12 cm)53 gal (200 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)Cupid cichlid
Biotodoma cupido
4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)25 gal (95 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Keyhole cichlid
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4.3 in (11 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)