Panama cichlid
Panamius panamensis
Also known as Neetroplus panamensis, Rosy cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–84°F
- 24–29°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.2
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal
- 160 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Pacific slope streams, Panama
Overview
The Panama cichlid is a compact, territorial stream cichlid for a rocky tank. It is best for someone who has kept fish before.
Did you know
The Panama cichlid gives Panama a cichlid genus of its own. After being shuffled between Neetroplus, Cichlasoma and Cryptoheros, it was set apart as the sole member of Panamius, named for its home country.
Caring for the Panama cichlid
Give a Panama cichlid at least 42 gal (160 L), with stacked rock that breaks the tank into territories and caves. Use a substrate of sand and smooth pebbles, and let the rock mark clear boundaries.
Keep the water warm and neutral to slightly alkaline, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Give it plenty of water movement, strong filtration and steady oxygen to match its stream home.
It spends most of its time low in the tank, grazing algae and aufwuchs off stones and picking at small invertebrates. Offer a varied diet of sinking pellets, spirulina-based foods and frozen items such as bloodworm.
It has a strong sense of territory, so keep it as a single fish or a bonded pair rather than a group. It defends its space firmly, so choose tank mates carefully. Robust, similar-sized cichlids that can hold their own suit it better than timid fish it might bully.
It is a cave spawner. Pairs lay eggs on a sheltered surface and guard the fry together, and breeding it is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
Panamius panamensis belongs to the family Cichlidae and is one of the smaller Central American cichlids. Its flattened body and scraping teeth suit a life spent grazing hard surfaces.
In the wild
The Panama cichlid lives in warm, fast, rocky streams on the Pacific slope of Panama. It moves over sand, gravel and stone, where leaf litter collects from the forest above.
Common questions
What size tank does a Panama cichlid need?
A Panama cichlid needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Panama cichlid need?
A Panama cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
What does a Panama cichlid eat?
A Panama cichlid grazes algae and aufwuchs off stones and picks at small invertebrates. Feed it a varied diet of sinking pellets, spirulina-based foods and frozen items such as bloodworm.
How big does a Panama cichlid get?
An adult Panama cichlid reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
How does a Panama cichlid breed?
The Panama cichlid is a cave spawner. A pair lays its eggs on a sheltered surface and guards the fry together. Breeding it is a moderate challenge.
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