TankBud

Mouth almighty

Glossamia aprion

Also known as Marbled perchlet, Mouth almighty cardinalfish

FreshwaterFish

Mouth almighty (Glossamia aprion)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–86°F
22–30°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
7.1 in
18 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Apogonidae
Origin
Rivers and billabongs of Australia and New Guinea

Overview

The mouth almighty is a large, predatory freshwater cardinalfish for a big planted tank. It is best with a little experience and a careful choice of tank mates.

Did you know

The mouth almighty's Australian name is a fair warning, because its mouth spans close to a third of the head. The same jaws that gulp down shrimp and small fish also serve as a safe nursery where the father broods his young.

Caring for the mouth almighty

Keep a mouth almighty in a well-planted tank of at least 79 gal (300 L). Give it driftwood, roots and dense planting to ambush from and hide in. It hangs quietly among wood and plants in the middle of the tank, waiting to lunge. Without dense cover it turns shy and skittish.

It is undemanding on water chemistry and handles 72 to 86°F (22 to 30°C) at a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Feed meaty foods such as earthworms, prawn and pieces of fish, and wean it off live fish where you can.

The mouth almighty is an aggressive ambush predator, best kept singly. It will eat any tank mate that fits in its enormous mouth. If you add companions, choose them with real caution and pick only fish far too large to be swallowed.

The male is a mouthbrooder. He holds the eggs in his mouth for roughly two weeks, then shelters the fry for another week, going without food the whole time. Breeding is moderately difficult in a well-set-up tank.

Good to know

The mouth almighty, Glossamia aprion, is a fully freshwater cardinalfish in the family Apogonidae. It grows large for the group. It is also known as the marbled perchlet.

In the wild

The mouth almighty lives in rivers, billabongs and slow backwaters across northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It holds still among snags and thick waterside plants.

Common questions

What size tank does a mouth almighty need?

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

What temperature and pH does a mouth almighty need?

A mouth almighty is comfortable at 72–86°F (22–30°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does a mouth almighty eat?

A mouth almighty eats meaty foods such as earthworms, prawn and pieces of fish. Wean it off live fish where you can.

How big does a mouth almighty get?

An adult mouth almighty reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).

How does a mouth almighty breed?

The mouth almighty is a mouthbrooder. The male holds the eggs for roughly two weeks, then shelters the fry for another week without eating. Breeding is moderately difficult in a well-set-up tank.

Related species