Trimac cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

A single adult needs a tank of at least 340 liters at 24 to 28 C and pH 7.0 to 8.0. Provide rockwork and expect heavy digging in the substrate. Feed a varied diet of quality pellets and frozen foods, with some vegetable matter to balance it out. This is an aggressive fish best kept alone or with a bonded mate.

In the wild

The trimac lives in Pacific-slope rivers from Mexico to El Salvador. It favors slow lower valleys with mud and sand bottoms among roots and weeds. This is a big, digging cichlid that reshapes its surroundings. Give it a sturdy layout it cannot easily topple.

Good to know

Amphilophus trimaculatus was described by Gunther in 1867 and is often still traded as Cichlasoma trimaculatum. It is named for three dark blotches along the flank, and breeding adults flush gold and orange with red speckling around the head. Males reach about 35 cm, larger than females.

Did you know

Trimac stock was used in the breeding history of the man-made flowerhorn, which borrows its bright color and nuchal hump.

Related species

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  Midas Cichlid

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• 

  Flowerhorn cichlid

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• 

  Oscar

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• 

  Redhead Cichlid

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• 

  Blackbelt Cichlid

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