TankBud

Wolf cichlid

Parachromis dovii

Also known as Dovii, Guapote

FreshwaterFish

Wolf cichlid (Parachromis dovii)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.8–7.6
Adult size
27.6 in
70 cm
Minimum tank
250 gal
946 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Central America (Atlantic and Pacific slopes, Honduras to Costa Rica)

Overview

The wolf cichlid is a large, aggressive predator that patrols the whole tank from the middle and lower water. It is a fish for experienced keepers only.

Did you know

As they mature, big male wolf cichlids develop a bright golden, spotted body with a turquoise sheen. The color often deepens while a male holds territory or guards a spawn. A settled adult in his own tank tends to look far better than a stressed youngster in a crowded one.

Caring for the wolf cichlid

Give a single adult wolf cichlid a tank of at least 250 gal (946 L). Brace heavy rockwork or wood so it cannot be toppled, since this fish will rearrange anything loose. Sand or gravel both work for the substrate. Use secure equipment and watch your hands during maintenance, since adults will bite.

Keep the water tropical, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.8 to 7.6. Run strong, oversized filtration to keep up with the heavy waste load. Feed meaty foods such as quality pellets, prawns and earthworms rather than feeder fish.

The wolf cichlid is aggressive and solitary, so keep it alone. It will eat any tank mate small enough to fit in its mouth and harass the rest. Never release one into local waters, since a large invasive predator can wreck native fish. Rehome it instead, and check your local rules.

The only realistic grouping is a single bonded breeding pair, and even then pairing is risky. Males often kill an unreceptive female, so a breeding setup needs 1,500 liters or more, with sight breaks and an escape route.

Females stay smaller than males, at roughly 35 to 45 cm. It is an open-substrate spawner that lays its eggs on a cleaned rock or surface, and both parents guard the brood. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

Parachromis dovii is a large predatory cichlid in the family Cichlidae, and one of the biggest Central American cichlids kept in the hobby. It is sometimes sold as the guapote, for the golden look of mature males. FishBase lists its maximum near 72 cm total length. A healthy adult is long lived, often well over a decade.

In the wild

Wolf cichlids come from rivers and lakes across Central America, on both the Atlantic and Pacific slopes from Honduras down to Costa Rica. These are warm, open waterways with rock and structure where a big predator can hold territory.

Common questions

What size tank does a wolf cichlid need?

A wolf cichlid needs at least 250 gal (946 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a wolf cichlid need?

A wolf cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.8–7.6.

What does a wolf cichlid eat?

A wolf cichlid eats meaty foods such as quality pellets, prawns and earthworms, rather than feeder fish.

How big does a wolf cichlid get?

An adult wolf cichlid reaches about 27.6 in (70 cm).

How can you tell a male wolf cichlid from a female?

Males grow larger than females, which stay at roughly 35 to 45 cm.

How does a wolf cichlid breed?

A wolf cichlid is an open-substrate spawner that lays its eggs on a cleaned rock or surface, and both parents guard the brood. Pairing is risky, since males often kill an unreceptive female, and breeding it is hard.

Related species