Gephyrus cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a bold, territorial cichlid best kept singly or as a single compatible pair rather than in a group. It works the lower half of the tank and digs, so use a soft sand bed and anchor any wood or stone firmly. Its temper is assertive, especially once it matures and settles a territory, so pick tankmates with care: sturdy, similar sized fish that will not be pushed around, and avoid small or timid species. A tank of at least 300 liters gives it room to hold a territory without constant conflict. Feed a mixed diet of sinking pellets, frozen foods, and the occasional vegetable item.

In the wild

The bridge cichlid comes from Pacific slope rivers of Colombia, including the Rio Dagua and the Choco drainages, where it lives among sand, driftwood, and rock in warm, soft to neutral water. Recreate that with a sandy substrate, sizeable pieces of driftwood, and slate or rounded stones set into sheltered corners. Keep the water warm at 24–29 C and slightly acidic to neutral, around pH 6.0–7.5, with steady filtration and regular water changes.

Good to know

Mesoheros gephyrus is a member of the family Cichlidae and reaches around 15 centimeters. The genus Mesoheros groups heroine cichlids of the Pacific slope of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru, a South American outpost of a mainly Central American lineage. The species name gephyrus comes from the Greek for bridge. It is a biparental substrate spawner, and breeding is rated as moderate.

Did you know

Its name means bridge, a fitting label for a cichlid on the Pacific slope of Colombia, near where the cichlid faunas of Central and South America meet.

Common questions

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