Tamasopo cichlid
Herichthys tamasopoensis
Also known as Tamasopoensis cichlid
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–84°F (24–29°C)
- pH
- 7.5–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.1 in (18 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal (300 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Tamasopo river, Pánuco basin, Mexico
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
The Tamasopo cichlid is a medium sized, territorial Central American cichlid that is best kept as a single fish or a bonded pair, with tankmates chosen carefully. Give it a large tank with hard water, open sand, and plenty of rock and wood to mark out territories, especially once a pair starts to breed. It works the bottom and lower water, grazing algae from stone, so its diet should lean vegetable: a good spirulina-based pellet plus some frozen foods. House it only with robust fish that can hold their own. A tank of around 300 liters or more is a sensible minimum.
In the wild
This species is found only in the Tamasopo river of the Panuco basin in San Luis Potosi, central-eastern Mexico, where it grazes algae from rock in clear, hard, flowing water. Recreate that with a rocky layout over sand, some current and strong oxygenation, and bright light to grow algae. Keep the water hard and alkaline, around 24 to 29 C and pH 7.5 to 8.4.
Good to know
Herichthys tamasopoensis is a cichlid that reaches about 18 centimeters, smaller than several of its relatives. The Mexican aquarist and cichlid historian Juan Miguel Artigas Azas described it in 1993. In the wild it feeds by biting rock at a steep angle and shaking its body to tear algae free. It is a biparental substrate spawner, both parents guarding the eggs and fry over an open surface.
Did you know
It was named by Juan Miguel Artigas Azas, a hobbyist and cichlid historian rather than a career academic, one of the cases where aquarium expertise fed a formal species description back to science.
Common questions
What size tank does a Tamasopo cichlid need?
A Tamasopo cichlid needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Tamasopo cichlid need?
Tamasopo cichlid are comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.4.
How big do Tamasopo cichlid get?
An adult Tamasopo cichlid reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
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Related species
Deppii cichlid
Herichthys deppiiFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Pantostictus cichlid
Herichthys pantostictusFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Barton's cichlid
Herichthys bartoniFreshwater8.7 in (22 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Curve-bar cichlid
Herichthys labridensFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Pearlscale Cichlid
Herichthys carpintisFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–79°F (24–26°C)
Texas Cichlid
Herichthys cyanoguttatusFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)66 gal (250 L)68–90°F (20–32°C)