Umbee cichlid
Kronoheros umbrifer
Also known as Cichlasoma umbriferum, Blue speckled monster
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–84°F (24–29°C)
- pH
- 7.0–8.2
- Adult size
- 21.7 in (55 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 238 gal (900 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Rivers of eastern Panama and western Colombia
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
The umbee is one of the largest and most formidable New World cichlids, an intelligent, hard-hitting predator that only makes sense in a very large tank. Keep a single fish, or a proven pair, and understand that few tankmates are safe with it; many keepers house it alone. It patrols the bottom and lower water and will rearrange anything loose. Feed meaty foods and large sinking items, never live feeder fish, which risk disease. This is a serious, long-lived commitment that needs four-digit litre volumes, around 900 liters or more.
In the wild
This giant cichlid lives in deep pools of rivers from eastern Panama into western Colombia, including the Atrato and Magdalena systems, in warm, roughly neutral water. In the tank that means enormous volume, heavy-duty filtration, and large, well anchored rock and wood it cannot easily topple. Keep the water warm and neutral to slightly hard, around 24 to 29 C and pH 7.0 to 8.2.
Good to know
Kronoheros umbrifer, long known as Cichlasoma umbriferum, is the largest cichlid across its range, commonly reaching around 55 centimeters and growing larger still in the wild. It is a heavy, blue-speckled predator over a dark body. It is a biparental substrate spawner, both parents fiercely guarding a large brood. The genus was separated out in a 2016 revision of Central American cichlids.
Did you know
Its genus name pairs the name of Kronos, the child-devouring Titan of Greek myth, with the cichlid root heros; it is the biggest cichlid across its Panama and Colombia range, with wild fish reported to nearly 80 centimeters.
Common questions
What size tank does an Umbee cichlid need?
An Umbee cichlid needs at least 238 gal (900 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Umbee cichlid need?
Umbee cichlid are comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
How big do Umbee cichlid get?
An adult Umbee cichlid reaches about 21.7 in (55 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Cichlids · Advanced fish · Bottom dwellers · Monster fish
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