Firemouth cichlid care

Water temperature

75–86°F

Keep firemouth cichlids at 75–86°F with a pH of 6.5–8, in a tank of at least 30 gallons. Good tank mates include angelfish, oscars, guppies.

Mostly bluff: flares the red throat instead of fighting.

Thorichthys meeki

pH

6.5–8

Minimum tank

30 gal

Adult size

6.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

10–15 years

Swims at

Bottom

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• AngelfishYes
• OscarYes
• GuppyYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• Yoyo loachYes
• Kissing gouramiYes
• Tiger barbYes
• SeverumYes
• Electric blue acaraYes
• Congo tetraYes
• Clown loachYes

Full firemouth cichlid tank mate chart: 52 yes, 34 with care, 12 no

Firemouth cichlid water compared

Fish to keep away from firemouth cichlids

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); firemouth cichlids need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.
• Jack Dempsey Jack dempseys are aggressive and much bigger than firemouth cichlids.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); firemouth cichlids need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.
• Flowerhorn Flowerhorns are aggressive and much bigger than firemouth cichlids.
• Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 6 inches firemouth cichlids do.
• Cherry shrimp A firemouth cichlid is big enough to swallow adult cherry shrimp.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 6 inches firemouth cichlids do.
• Ghost shrimp A firemouth cichlid is big enough to swallow adult ghost shrimp.

More cichlids

• Angelfish76–84°F
• Oscar74–81°F
• Discus82–88°F
• Convict cichlid74–82°F
• German blue ram80–86°F
• African cichlid75–82°F
• Blood parrot76–80°F
• Jack Dempsey72–86°F