Keyhole cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

This is one of the shyest, most peaceful cichlids you can keep. A pair will sit in the middle of the tank but bolt for cover at any sudden movement, so give them confident dither fish up top to coax them out. They eat pellets, flake, and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. Around 95 liters works for a pair, with calm tankmates and no bullies.

In the wild

Keyhole cichlids live in slow, soft, tannin-stained waters of Venezuela and the Guianas, often near submerged wood and leaf litter. That blackwater background is why they show their best color over a dark substrate with plenty of cover. Give them driftwood, a few broad-leaf plants, and a quiet spot to retreat to. A pH on the acidic side, around 6 to 7.5, suits them well.

Good to know

Cleithracara maronii is the only species in its genus, part of the family Cichlidae. Adults reach about 11 cm. It is a substrate-spawner that lays eggs on a flat surface, and both parents tend the eggs and fry. The tan body with a single dark eye-spot marking is where the common name comes from.

Did you know

When a keyhole gets stressed or scared, it changes color fast, going pale and showing a dark diagonal band across the body. It is one of the clearest mood-readers among cichlids, so you can tell at a glance whether your fish feels safe.

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