Green guapote

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a big, hardy, aggressive cichlid from the dry northwest of Mexico, best kept singly or as one settled pair in a large tank of at least 450 liters. It holds the lower water, digs, and is strongly predatory, so keep it only with other large, robust fish that can stand up to it, and never with anything small enough to swallow. Give it plenty of space and solid cover so a pair or tankmates can establish boundaries. It is not fussy about food: feed quality sinking pellets and frozen or meaty foods, and it colors up best on a varied diet. Expect it to rearrange decor and dig, especially in breeding condition.

In the wild

The green guapote lives in the Pacific slope rivers of Sinaloa and Nayarit in northwestern Mexico, a region of warm, seasonally dry rivers running over stone and sand. Recreate that with a sand bottom, large rocks and driftwood for territory, and open swimming space. Keep the water warm at 24–29 C and neutral to hard and alkaline, around pH 7.0–8.2, with strong filtration and regular water changes to suit a large, messy fish.

Good to know

Mayaheros beani is a member of the family Cichlidae and one of the larger Central American cichlids, reaching about 30 centimeters. Males take on a green sheen over darker saddle markings, brightest in breeding condition. The pair spawns on a cleaned surface and raises the fry together, and breeding is of moderate difficulty.

Did you know

Among the cichlids of the Americas, beani lives at the far northwestern edge of the family's Pacific slope range, one of the northernmost cichlids found on that side of the continent.

Common questions

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