Soda cichlid
Oreochromis alcalicus
Also known as Alcolapia alcalica, Natron tilapia, Soda tilapia
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–95°F
- 26–35°C
- pH
- 8.5–9.5
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Natron soda springs, Tanzania and Kenya
Overview
The soda cichlid is an extremophile for keepers willing to build and hold soda-lake chemistry on purpose. It is a social, mostly peaceful fish and moderately demanding to keep.
Did you know
The soda cichlid's home lake is so alkaline that it calcifies and preserves the bodies of many animals that die in its water. It raises its fry in the cooler, spring-fed shallows of that same lethal lake.
Caring for the soda cichlid
Give a group of soda cichlids a tank of at least 53 gal (200 L), set up deliberately for their unusual water. Lay a sand floor, and expect them to swim in the middle of the tank.
Give them very hard, strongly alkaline and very warm water. Keep it at 79 to 95°F (26 to 35°C) and a pH of 8.5 to 9.5, and hold it stable. Ordinary community water slowly kills this fish.
In the wild it grazes biofilm, algae and the cyanobacterial film of hot alkaline springs. Feed a vegetable-leaning diet to match.
The soda cichlid is a social fish, best kept as a group. Choose calm, similar tank mates with care, since ordinary community fish would not survive its water. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The soda cichlid, Oreochromis alcalicus, was long known as Alcolapia alcalica. It is adapted to soda-lake extremes, and its tolerance of high temperature and near-caustic alkalinity is among the most extreme known in fish.
In the wild
The soda cichlid lives in the hot, caustic springs and shallow margins of Lake Natron, on the Tanzania and Kenya border. These are some of the harshest waters any fish endures.
Common questions
What size tank does a soda cichlid need?
A soda cichlid needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a soda cichlid need?
A soda cichlid is comfortable at 79–95°F (26–35°C) with a pH of 8.5–9.5.
What does a soda cichlid eat?
A soda cichlid grazes biofilm, algae and the cyanobacterial film of hot alkaline springs in the wild. In the tank, feed it a vegetable-leaning diet.
How big does a soda cichlid get?
An adult soda cichlid reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How does a soda cichlid breed?
The soda cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is moderately difficult.
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