Sieboldii cichlid
Talamancaheros sieboldii
Also known as Theraps sieboldii, Siebold's cichlid
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
- 106 gal
- 400 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Pacific slope, Panama
Overview
The Sieboldii cichlid is a large river grazer for a big tank with strong current. It is best with some experience.
Did you know
The Sieboldii cichlid's genus name comes from the Talamanca cordillera, the mountain chain whose fast rivers it lives in. The fish carries the name of its home range on the label.
Caring for the Sieboldii cichlid
Give the Sieboldii cichlid at least 106 gal (400 L), a fair minimum for a fish this size. It needs strong current and high oxygen above all. Build open, current-swept space among rounded boulders and rock.
Keep the water neutral to hard, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. It is sensitive to water quality, so make large, regular water changes. Feed a vegetable-leaning diet with prepared foods.
Sieboldii cichlids are generally peaceful for their size. Keep a single fish or a pair, with robust tank mates rather than small, timid ones. Pairs turn territorial when breeding. The Sieboldii cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner of medium breeding difficulty.
Good to know
The Sieboldii cichlid, Talamancaheros sieboldii, also goes by Siebold's cichlid and Theraps sieboldii. This torrent-country grazer was placed in its own genus, Talamancaheros, in 2016. That same revision restricted the name sieboldii to Panama and moved the Costa Rican populations to Talamancaheros underwoodi.
In the wild
The Sieboldii cichlid holds fast and moderately flowing boulder rivers on the Pacific slope of the Talamanca region. It lives in western Panama, near the Costa Rican border.
Common questions
What size tank does a Sieboldii cichlid need?
A Sieboldii cichlid needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Sieboldii cichlid need?
A Sieboldii cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
What does a Sieboldii cichlid eat?
A Sieboldii cichlid eats a vegetable-leaning diet with prepared foods.
How big does a Sieboldii cichlid get?
An adult Sieboldii cichlid reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
How does a Sieboldii cichlid breed?
The Sieboldii cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner, and pairs turn territorial when breeding. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
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