TankBud

Gephyrus cichlid

Mesoheros gephyrus

Also known as Bridge cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Gephyrus cichlid (Mesoheros gephyrus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Rio Dagua and Chocó drainages, Colombia

Overview

The Gephyrus cichlid is a bold, territorial cichlid for the lower half of the tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The name gephyrus comes from the Greek for bridge. It fits a cichlid living near where the cichlid faunas of Central and South America meet.

Caring for the Gephyrus cichlid

Give a Gephyrus cichlid at least 79 gal (300 L), which gives it room to hold a territory without constant conflict. It works the lower half of the tank and digs. Use a soft sand bed with sizeable pieces of driftwood, and set slate or rounded stones into sheltered corners. Anchor any wood or stone firmly.

Keep the water warm and soft, from slightly acidic to neutral. Aim for 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, with steady filtration and regular water changes. Feed a mixed diet of sinking pellets, frozen foods and the occasional vegetable item.

Keep it singly or as a single compatible pair rather than in a group. Its temper is assertive, especially once it matures and settles a territory. Choose sturdy, similar-sized tank mates that will not be pushed around, and avoid small or timid species. The Gephyrus cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner, and breeding is rated as moderate.

Good to know

Mesoheros gephyrus is a member of the family Cichlidae, also called the bridge cichlid. The genus Mesoheros groups the heroine cichlids of the Pacific slope of Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. It is a South American outpost of a mainly Central American lineage.

In the wild

The Gephyrus cichlid comes from rivers on Colombia's Pacific slope, including the Rio Dagua and the Chocó drainages. It lives among sand, driftwood and rock.

Common questions

What size tank does a Gephyrus cichlid need?

A Gephyrus cichlid needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Gephyrus cichlid need?

A Gephyrus cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Gephyrus cichlid eat?

A Gephyrus cichlid eats a mixed diet of sinking pellets, frozen foods and the occasional vegetable item.

How big does a Gephyrus cichlid get?

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

How does a Gephyrus cichlid breed?

The Gephyrus cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner, and breeding it is rated as moderate.

Related species