TankBud

Underwoodi cichlid

Talamancaheros underwoodi

Also known as Underwood's cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Underwoodi cichlid (Talamancaheros underwoodi)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
7.0–8.2
Adult size
11 in
28 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
Térraba drainage, Costa Rica

Overview

The Underwoodi cichlid is a medium-large, current-loving Costa Rican cichlid for a river-style tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

For over a century, the Underwoodi cichlid was lumped in with a close relative and had no name of its own. Only a 2016 study of Central American cichlids separated it out as a distinct species.

Caring for the Underwoodi cichlid

Give an Underwoodi cichlid a spacious, well filtered tank of at least 106 gal (400 L). Provide brisk current, rounded boulders and high oxygen. It works the bottom in moving water, grazing and picking at surfaces.

Keep the water warm and neutral to slightly hard, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Feed a mixed diet with a good share of vegetable matter alongside frozen and prepared foods.

The Underwoodi cichlid is fairly peaceful for its size but territorial when breeding. Keep one fish or a single pair, and choose sturdy tank mates suited to strong flow. It is a biparental substrate spawner, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Talamancaheros underwoodi is a rheophilic cichlid, adapted to life in flowing rivers. It was long treated as a population of the related Talamancaheros sieboldii. When it was recognized as a distinct species, it was also placed in the new genus Talamancaheros.

In the wild

The Underwoodi cichlid is restricted to the Terraba drainage of Costa Rica, on the Pacific slope of the Talamanca mountains. It lives in fast and moderately flowing rivers over rock and gravel.

Common questions

What size tank does an Underwoodi cichlid need?

An Underwoodi cichlid needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an Underwoodi cichlid need?

An Underwoodi cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does an Underwoodi cichlid eat?

An Underwoodi cichlid eats a mixed diet with a good share of vegetable matter alongside frozen and prepared foods.

How big does an Underwoodi cichlid get?

An adult Underwoodi cichlid reaches about 11 in (28 cm).

How does an Underwoodi cichlid breed?

An Underwoodi cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Related species