.............................Jewel cichlid
Other names:...........none Origin:......................Africa Max size:..................6" PH:............-..............7.0-7.6 Temperature:...........70-75 F. Min tank size:..........30 gallons Food:.........................live foods, beef heart, worms, flakes, pellets |
Jewel cichlids are colorful fish that are pugnacious and scrappy in the typical cichlid fasion. Also typical of cichlids however, they make good parents. The body ranges from orange to pink, with several shiny yellow spots. These fish dig in the gravel and stir up a mess, so a good mechanical filtration system is recommended. Jewels can be aggressive, especially during spawning, so keep them only with other medium sized fishes that can take care of themselves.
Water composition is not critical, but its temperature should be about 74 degrees F. They will eat meaty foods as well as vegetable type foods, and especially enjoy live foods. Plants are appreciated, and large rocks should be provided for the fish to take cover.
It is difficult to distinguish sexes except by their genital papillae. The spot near the dorsal and anal fins is less noticable on females. When breeding, the fish will dig spawning areas near the back of the aquarium. The female lays several hundred eggs on carefully cleaned rocks, and then the eggs are moved to the gravel pits. They are difficult to pair though, and incompatibility can lead to death.
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