TankBud

Grammodes cichlid

Chiapaheros grammodes

Also known as Sieve cichlid, Chiapas cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Grammodes cichlid (Chiapaheros grammodes)
(c) Daniel Pineda Vera, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
7.2–8.2
Adult size
9.4 in
24 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Rio Grande de Chiapa, Mexico

Overview

The Grammodes cichlid is a large, combative cichlid from Chiapas, Mexico, for a very big tank. It suits a keeper with some cichlid experience.

Did you know

The Grammodes cichlid's name means marked with lines or lettering, from the Greek for lines or letters. It refers to the blue, worm-like scribbles scrawled across its paler flanks. Those markings look oddly like handwriting.

Caring for the Grammodes cichlid

Give a Grammodes cichlid a big tank of at least 119 gal (450 L). Use a sandy floor with plenty of shelter, such as large stones, wood and sturdy caves. That shelter breaks up its line of sight and gives weaker fish somewhere to escape. It works the lower water and digs.

Keep the water warm, hard and slightly alkaline, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.2 to 8.2. Add some current from the filter, with strong filtration to match its size and appetite. Feed a varied diet of sinking cichlid pellets and frozen or meaty foods. It leans toward eating other fish in the wild, so meaty items suit it.

It is unassuming as a youngster but turns into a real bully as it grows. Plan on a single fish or one tested pair. It is predatory, so keep only large, robust tank mates that can defend themselves, and never small fish.

Both parents guard the eggs and fry after spawning on a firm surface. Breeding is of moderate difficulty.

Good to know

Chiapaheros grammodes is the only species in its genus and a member of the family Cichlidae.

In the wild

The Grammodes cichlid lives in the warm rivers of the Grijalva system in Chiapas, Mexico, and into Guatemala. It is found in flowing water over rock and sand.

Common questions

What size tank does a Grammodes cichlid need?

A Grammodes cichlid needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Grammodes cichlid need?

A Grammodes cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.2–8.2.

What does a Grammodes cichlid eat?

A Grammodes cichlid eats a varied diet of sinking cichlid pellets and frozen or meaty foods. It leans toward eating other fish in the wild, so meaty items suit it.

How big does a Grammodes cichlid get?

An adult Grammodes cichlid reaches about 9.4 in (24 cm).

How does a Grammodes cichlid breed?

Grammodes cichlids spawn on a firm surface, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is of moderate difficulty.

Related species