Freshwater
Firemouth cichlid
Thorichthys meeki
Cichlidae, Cichlasomatinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 17 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 118 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
NativeIntroduced
Lives wild in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Introduced to Colombia, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and United States.
More about the species
Description
Prefers lower and middle sections of rivers in slow moving waters. Lives in mud-bottomed and sand-bottomed canals and rocky ponds. Stays close to the shoreline vegetation for protection. Omnivorous, but feeds mainly on algae. Used in behavioral studies. Aquarium keeping: minimum aquarium size 100 cm.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Cichlasoma hyorhynchum
- Cichlasoma meeki
- Herichthys meeki
- Thorichthys helleri meeki
In other languages
- Ildbuk
- Eldbuk
- Rødstrubet Cichlide
- Tulisuu
- Firemouth, Redbreasted cichlid
Articles
All articles
How to set up a Central American aquarium5 min read
Hard, alkaline water, sand and rock: an aquarium from the rivers and lakes of Mexico and Central America, with cichlids and livebearers.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
Ich (white spot)4 min read
The most common disease in aquarium fish. How to recognize it, why it shows up, and how to get rid of it.