The Firemouth Cichlid
The Firemouth Cichlid is one of the many species of South American, or New World Cichlids. These fish got their name from the fiery coloration on the breast and throat.
The base color of the firemouth is blue gray with black blotches and brown fins lined with blue. The females are not as brightly colored as the males. All of these cichlids have coloration differences; it depends on the place of origin.
These fish can be found in Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. They are found in the middle to bottom of slow moving bodies of water. They tend to stay close to shore to feed on some meaty foods and algae.
These cichlids are able to be kept in a minimum 20 gallon tank. It is recommended to keep them in a 30 gallon or more with no more than 2 kept in the same tank. The ideal temperature for your tank is 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal Ph in your tank should be 6.5-8.0, and the ideal hardness should be 8-15 degrees.
Just like when they are in their place of origin in the tank they swim in the middle or lower part of the tank. Having fine sand in the bottom of the tank is ideal for them to burrow.
There needs to be some open room for swimming in the tank, but there should also be rocks for hiding. Plants that are recommended for this cichlid are the Sagittaria plants.
All in all, the firemouth is a peaceful fish, but when it comes time for spawning they may get aggressive. It is recommended to put only fish of the same size in the tank with this fish. Some recommendations of fish you can put with your cichlid are: Sharks, Scavenger Catfish, Loaches, other South American Cichlids or Plecos.
The firemouth will also usually become fairly territorial when spawning. The female carefully cleans the bottom of the tank before she deposits her eggs. They are kept in pits at the bottom of the tank and moved several times. With many species of cichlids, the male and female fire mouths both take care of the eggs. The female may raise several broods in the course of a year.
