Firemouth Cichlid

Thorichthys meeki

When challenged it puffs out its blazing red throat and flares its gill covers, flashing a fake black eye at the intruder.

A semi-aggressive freshwater fish that grows to 15 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–29 °C, pH 6.5–8.0 and an aquarium of at least 120 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

24–29 °C (75–84 °F)

pH

6.5–8.0

Adult size

15 cm (5.9 in)

Aquarium

120 L or bigger (32 US gal)

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Slow rivers of the Yucatán Peninsula

Good to know

• Territorial. Fights other territorial fish in its zone, especially in small tanks.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Bristlenose Pleco, Clown Loach, Corydoras, Dwarf Gourami, Honey Gourami, Kuhli Loach, Otocinclus, Pearl Gourami, Siamese Algae Eater, Zebra Danio.

Will eat: Amano Shrimp, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, Ghost Shrimp, Glowlight Tetra, Marbled Hatchetfish, Neocaridina Shrimp, Neon Tetra and 2 more.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Fights with: Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey, Yellow Lab Cichlid.

Attacks: Demasoni Cichlid.

Eats the newborn fry of: Angelfish, Axolotl, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Bristlenose Pleco, Cherry Barb, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Corydoras and 26 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Black Ghost Knifefish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Electric Blue Acara, Fancy Goldfish, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Kribensis and 5 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.