Keyhole cichlid
Cleithracara maronii
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 70–82°F
- 21–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 4.3 in
- 11 cm
- Minimum tank
- 25 gal
- 95 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Venezuela, The Guianas
Overview
The keyhole cichlid is one of the shyest, most peaceful cichlids you can keep. It suits a calm community tank, though it is not quite a beginner fish.
Did you know
A stressed or scared keyhole cichlid changes color fast, going pale and showing a dark diagonal band across its body. It is one of the clearest mood readers among cichlids, so you can tell at a glance whether it feels safe.
Caring for the keyhole cichlid
A pair of keyhole cichlids needs at least 25 gal (95 L). Give them driftwood, a few broad-leaf plants and a quiet spot to retreat to. Their blackwater background is why they show their best color over a dark substrate with plenty of cover.
Keep the temperature at 70 to 82°F (21 to 28°C) and the pH at 6.0 to 7.5, leaning to the acidic side. Feed pellets, flake and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.
A pair sits in the middle of the tank but bolts for cover at any sudden movement. Confident dither fish up top coax them out. Keep them with calm tank mates and no bullies.
Keyhole cichlids are substrate spawners that lay their eggs on a flat surface. Both parents tend the eggs and fry, and breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The keyhole cichlid, Cleithracara maronii, is the only species in its genus, part of the family Cichlidae. Its common name comes from the single dark eye-spot marking on its tan body.
In the wild
Keyhole cichlids live in slow, soft, tannin-stained waters of Venezuela and the Guianas. They are often found near submerged wood and leaf litter.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The keyhole cichlid is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Red lizard whiptail
Rineloricaria lanceolata
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Banded hillstream loach
Pseudogastromyzon fasciatus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
Spotted hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus maculatus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Burmese stone loach
Balitora burmanica
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a keyhole cichlid need?
A keyhole cichlid needs at least 25 gal (95 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a keyhole cichlid need?
A keyhole cichlid is comfortable at 70–82°F (21–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a keyhole cichlid eat?
A keyhole cichlid takes pellets, flake and frozen foods. Bloodworms and brine shrimp are good frozen choices.
How big does a keyhole cichlid get?
An adult keyhole cichlid reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).
Related species
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Paracyprichromis nigripinnis
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