TankBud

Banded jewel cichlid

Hemichromis elongatus

Also known as Five star general, Elongate jewel cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Banded jewel cichlid (Hemichromis elongatus)
Klaus Rudloff · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
6.3 in
16 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Rivers, lakes and lagoons across West and Central Africa.

Overview

The banded jewel cichlid is an aggressive, predatory African cichlid that swims in the middle of the tank. It needs a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The banded jewel cichlid's nickname, five star general, comes from the row of dark blotches along its side. They look a bit like rank insignia.

Caring for the banded jewel cichlid

Give a banded jewel cichlid at least 29 gal (110 L), with rocks, wood and open swimming space. It is flexible about water, which can run slightly acidic to neutral. Aim for 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Feed meaty foods such as frozen shrimp, earthworms and carnivore pellets. Keep a single fish or a bonded pair. It is highly predatory and territorial, so avoid small or slow tank mates. Unlike the smaller jewel cichlids, it grows big enough to treat most tank mates as food.

It is a biparental substrate spawner that lays its eggs on a cleaned rock or root and guards them jealously. Breeding adults deepen to a rich red flecked with shiny blue spots. It is easy to breed.

Good to know

Hemichromis elongatus is a larger, more elongated cousin of the common jewel cichlids, in the family Cichlidae. It has spread outside Africa as an introduced species in some warm regions.

In the wild

The banded jewel cichlid is found across the fresh waters of West and Central Africa, in rivers, lakes and lagoons. In the wild it is a predator that ambushes smaller fish and eats large invertebrates.

Common questions

What size tank does a banded jewel cichlid need?

A banded jewel cichlid needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a banded jewel cichlid need?

A banded jewel cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a banded jewel cichlid eat?

A banded jewel cichlid eats meaty foods such as frozen shrimp, earthworms and carnivore pellets. It is highly predatory and grows big enough to treat most tank mates as food.

How big does a banded jewel cichlid get?

An adult banded jewel cichlid reaches about 6.3 in (16 cm).

How does a banded jewel cichlid breed?

The banded jewel cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner that lays its eggs on a cleaned rock or root and guards them jealously. It is easy to breed.

Related species