Rhytisma cichlid
Cribroheros rhytisma
Also known as Amphilophus rhytisma, Patch cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–84°F
- 24–29°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.2
- Adult size
- 6.3 in
- 16 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Sixaola drainage, Costa Rica and Panama
Overview
The Rhytisma cichlid is a rarely imported Central American cichlid that keeps to the bottom of a tank with flowing water. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
The Rhytisma cichlid is, in effect, named after a spot. Rhytisma is Greek for a patch, given for the one dark blotch on its midflank.
Caring for the Rhytisma cichlid
Give a Rhytisma cichlid at least 79 gal (300 L), with a pebble and sand base and driftwood. Add enough cover for a pair to settle in. It likes flowing, well-oxygenated water, so provide strong flow and high oxygen.
Keep the water neutral to slightly alkaline, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. It stresses easily and shows it by throwing dark bars across the body, so keep conditions clean and steady.
It feeds low down, picking aquatic insects and sifting detritus. Offer sinking foods and frozen bloodworms as part of a varied everyday diet.
Keep a single fish or a bonded pair, which claims a bottom territory, most noticeably when spawning. It is fairly peaceful for its size but territorial at breeding time, so choose calm, sturdy tank mates. It is a substrate spawner, and a bonded pair tends the eggs and fry together. Breeding is moderately difficult.
Good to know
Cribroheros rhytisma is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae, described in 1983. It belongs to a group of sieve-feeding heroes, named for the way they strain food from the bottom. Other names include Amphilophus rhytisma and patch cichlid.
In the wild
The Rhytisma cichlid lives in the Sixaola drainage, on the border of Costa Rica and Panama. It keeps to moderate to fast rivers where the bottom is strewn with pebbles, wood and drifted leaves.
Common questions
What size tank does a Rhytisma cichlid need?
A Rhytisma cichlid needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Rhytisma cichlid need?
A Rhytisma cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
What does a Rhytisma cichlid eat?
A Rhytisma cichlid feeds low down, picking aquatic insects and sifting detritus. Offer it sinking foods and frozen bloodworms as part of a varied everyday diet.
How big does a Rhytisma cichlid get?
An adult Rhytisma cichlid reaches about 6.3 in (16 cm).
How does a Rhytisma cichlid breed?
Rhytisma cichlids are substrate spawners, and a bonded pair tends the eggs and fry together. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
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