TankBud

Firemouth cichlid

Thorichthys meeki

FreshwaterFish

Firemouth cichlid (Thorichthys meeki)
Mattia Nocciola · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
30 gal
115 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Easy
Rarity
Very common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Atlantic slope of Central America (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala)

Overview

The firemouth cichlid is a mostly peaceful cichlid that works the bottom of the tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The firemouth cichlid's name comes from the bright red throat and belly that males flash during display. To warn off a rival or impress a female, a male drops his lower jaw, flares his gill covers and puffs out the red patch. Most of the time it is bluff, and the two fish size each other up without ever making contact.

Caring for the firemouth cichlid

A pair of firemouth cichlids does fine in a tank of at least 30 gal (115 L). If you want them gregarious in a group of eight or more, you will need a much larger setup. Give them a soft sandy floor with smooth rocks and some driftwood to break up the layout.

Firemouths spend their time near the bottom, sifting sand and patrolling their patch. Keep the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods, with the occasional vegetable matter.

They are mostly peaceful for a Central American cichlid, but they turn territorial when breeding. They will eat much smaller fish or shrimp, so pick tank mates of similar size that can hold their own.

Firemouths breed readily as biparental substrate spawners. Both parents guard the eggs and fry on a cleaned flat surface or in a pit.

Good to know

Thorichthys meeki is a Central American member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae. A healthy adult can live several years, and most firemouths in the trade are tank-bred.

In the wild

Firemouth cichlids come from warm lowland rivers, lagoons and pools on the Atlantic slope of Central America, across Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. They are sand-sifters that work over soft bottoms looking for food.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The firemouth cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a firemouth cichlid need?

A firemouth cichlid needs at least 30 gal (115 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a firemouth cichlid need?

A firemouth cichlid is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a firemouth cichlid eat?

A firemouth cichlid eats sinking pellets and frozen foods. Give it the occasional vegetable matter as well.

How big does a firemouth cichlid get?

An adult firemouth cichlid reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

How does a firemouth cichlid breed?

A firemouth cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner that breeds readily. Both parents guard the eggs and fry on a cleaned flat surface or in a pit.

Related species