..................................Firemouth
Other names:...........none Origin:......................Guatemala, Yucatan Max size:..................6" PH:............-..............6.6-7.2 Temperature:...........70-76 F. Min tank size:..........35 gallons Food:.........................live foods, flakes, pellets, beef heart, worms |
The Firemouth is a deep-bodied, latterally-compressed Central American cichlid. A gold-edged black spot is present on the gill cover, and a black patch occurs on the flank below the dorsal fin. The male's throat is a brighter red, which intensifies at breeding or in times of aggression.
Firemouth individuals vary in temperament from pugnacious to peaceful. This fish may be guilty of occasional digging, but is generally well-behaved for a cichlid. Territorial, the species pairs and burrows but usually will not damage plants except for when it's spawning.
The Firemouth likes a tank with a bottom of fine sand and hiding places among rocks and bogwood. Plants should be potted to cover the rooted area and an open swimming area is important, so don't clutter the tank too much more than needed. Not recommended for a commumity tank unless it is kept with fishes of similar size and temperament. As an aggressive stance, the fish will threaten others by inflating a throat sac and extending their gill covers.
It is pretty easy to sex this fish. The male is more brightly colored than the female, and has pointier anal and dorsal fins than the female.
It can be difficult to pair compatible breeders, but once established, they are good parents. The female spawns on carefully cleaned rocks, dropping around 100 to 500 eggs. The fry are protected in pits and the parents may raise several broods in a year.
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