TankBud

Midas cichlid

Amphilophus citrinellus

FreshwaterFish

Midas cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus)
George Chernilevsky · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–79°F
21–26°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
13.8 in
35 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Nicaragua, Costa Rica

Overview

The Midas cichlid is a big, powerful and very territorial fish for a large tank of its own. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

Many Midas cichlids start life dark and gray, then lose the dark pigment and turn brilliant golden orange as they mature. That change inspired the name, after the mythical king whose touch turned things to gold.

Caring for the Midas cichlid

Keep a Midas cichlid alone or as a single committed pair, in a large tank of its own. Give one adult at least 79 gal (300 L). A mature fish claims the whole aquarium and will attack tank mates. Mixing it with others only works in very large systems with equally tough companions.

It rearranges sand, moves rocks and can uproot anything not fixed down, so keep the layout simple and secure. A sandy floor with large rounded rocks and a few sturdy pieces of wood suits it. It does not need plants, which it tends to dig up anyway. Leave plenty of open swimming space, and rest any rockwork on the glass rather than the substrate so it stays stable.

Use a strong filter and a heater guard, since these fish are hard on their surroundings. Give it hard, alkaline water at 70 to 79°F (21 to 26°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0.

Feed a good cichlid pellet as the base, with occasional frozen and fresh foods. Avoid excess fatty foods, which can cause problems in such a heavy-bodied fish.

Mature fish, especially males, develop a large nuchal hump on the forehead. Midas cichlids are substrate spawners and devoted parents, laying eggs on cleaned rock and guarding the fry fiercely. Breeding them is hard, mainly because of the space needed. One partner may also attack the other if the pair is not well matched.

Good to know

Amphilophus citrinellus is a member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae, and it grows into a deep, muscular adult.

In the wild

The Midas cichlid comes from the lakes and rivers of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, including the large Central American lakes and their crater lakes. The water there is hard and alkaline.

Common questions

What size tank does a Midas cichlid need?

A Midas cichlid needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Midas cichlid need?

A Midas cichlid is comfortable at 70–79°F (21–26°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a Midas cichlid eat?

A Midas cichlid eats a good cichlid pellet as its base, with occasional frozen and fresh foods. Avoid excess fatty foods, which can cause problems in such a heavy-bodied fish.

How big does a Midas cichlid get?

An adult Midas cichlid reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).

How can you tell a male Midas cichlid from a female?

Males especially develop a large nuchal hump on the forehead as they mature.

How does a Midas cichlid breed?

Midas cichlids are substrate spawners that lay their eggs on cleaned rock and guard the fry fiercely. Breeding them is hard, mainly because of the space needed and the risk of a badly matched pair fighting.

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