Microphthalmus cichlid
Chuco microphthalmus
Also known as Montagua cichlid, Small-eye chuco
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–84°F
- 24–29°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.2
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal
- 450 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Motagua basin, Guatemala and Honduras
Overview
The Microphthalmus cichlid is a big, territorial Central American fish for a large tank with a floor it can dig. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
The Microphthalmus cichlid's name means small-eyed, from the Greek for small and eye. It has notably small eyes for its bulk, which fits a cichlid that grubs through sand and gravel as much as it hunts by sight.
Caring for the Microphthalmus cichlid
Keep a Microphthalmus cichlid singly or as one male-female pair, never in a group. Plan on a tank of at least 119 gal (450 L), with a deep bed of sand or fine gravel it can excavate. Add sturdy stones and some driftwood for cover, and anchor or skip delicate plants, which it will uproot.
Give it warm, neutral to hard water at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Feed a varied diet of pellets and frozen or fresh meaty foods, with some vegetable matter.
It spends much of its time near the bottom, constantly digging, shifting gravel and rearranging the sand as it feeds and grazes. Microphthalmus cichlids are aggressive, so choose tank mates with care. Only robust fish of similar size can stand up to one. Be ready to separate a pair that turns on its neighbors.
Like other Central American cichlids, it is a biparental substrate spawner. A pair cleans a firm surface and lays the eggs on it, and both parents guard the eggs and defend the fry. Breeding it is of moderate difficulty.
Good to know
Chuco microphthalmus belongs to the cichlid family and is a large fish. It is an omnivore with a carnivorous streak.
In the wild
Chuco microphthalmus lives in the warm rivers of the Motagua basin in Guatemala and Honduras. The water there runs hard and alkaline.
Common questions
What size tank does a Microphthalmus cichlid need?
A Microphthalmus cichlid needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Microphthalmus cichlid need?
A Microphthalmus cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
What does a Microphthalmus cichlid eat?
A Microphthalmus cichlid eats a varied diet of pellets and frozen or fresh meaty foods. Add some vegetable matter as well.
How big does a Microphthalmus cichlid get?
An adult Microphthalmus cichlid reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
How does a Microphthalmus cichlid breed?
Microphthalmus cichlids are biparental substrate spawners that lay their eggs on a cleaned, firm surface. Both parents guard the eggs and defend the fry, and breeding them is of moderate difficulty.
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