TankBud

Jaguar cichlid

Parachromis managuensis

Also known as Managuense cichlid, Guapote

FreshwaterFish

Jaguar cichlid (Parachromis managuensis)
George Chernilevsky · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.0–8.5
Adult size
15.7 in
40 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Central America (Honduras to Costa Rica)

Overview

The jaguar cichlid is a big, aggressive cichlid from Central America that needs a very large tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The jaguar cichlid's spotted, broken pattern shifts as the fish grows. Juveniles wear plain bars and blotches, then break up into dense, leopard-like spotting as adults. A spawning pair often darkens right down to near black while guarding fry.

Caring for the jaguar cichlid

Give a jaguar cichlid a tank of at least 119 gal (450 L), with a fine sand or gravel floor it can dig. Add rockwork and caves to mark territory boundaries. Fit a tight lid, since a startled adult can shove the cover aside.

Keep the water warm, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.5. Strong filtration is not optional, given how much waste a fish this size puts out. Feed meaty foods such as pellets for large cichlids, earthworms and the occasional whole frozen item. Skip feeder fish to avoid disease.

Keep one fish on its own or a single proven pair. It is aggressive and territorial, and it holds the middle of the water column. It eats any tank mate small enough to swallow, so choose company with caution.

It is a substrate spawner that breeds easily as a pair. The pair guards the eggs and fry hard.

Good to know

The jaguar cichlid is a large predatory cichlid in the family Cichlidae. A healthy fish can live well over a decade. Most in the trade are tank bred.

In the wild

Jaguar cichlids come from warm lakes, rivers and slow backwaters across Central America, from Honduras down through Costa Rica. These are large, open waters with sand or gravel bottoms, sunken wood and rock. A big predator has room there to hold a territory.

Common questions

What size tank does a jaguar cichlid need?

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

What temperature and pH does a jaguar cichlid need?

A jaguar cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.5.

What does a jaguar cichlid eat?

A jaguar cichlid eats meaty foods, such as pellets for large cichlids, earthworms and the occasional whole frozen item. Skip feeder fish, which can bring in disease.

How big does a jaguar cichlid get?

An adult jaguar cichlid reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).

How does a jaguar cichlid breed?

Jaguar cichlids breed easily in pairs, as substrate spawners. A pair guards its eggs and fry hard.

Related species