How can you tell if a Firemouth cichlid is male or female?
Males are generally larger, (up to 15 cm), than females with brighter and more red colouration around the throat, they also have more pointed dorsal and anal fins.
What does a firemouth cichlid look like?
The Firemouth Cichlid, (Thorichthys meeki), is a beautiful cichlid with a pearlescent turquoise-blue body with red coloration edging the scales. The throat and breast are red in color, ranging from a brick to a fiery red shade.
Can Firemouth cichlids live alone?
Firemouth cichlids can be housed with other of their species, but there should be ample room for each to have his own generous territory. Males will live alone, though they may form monogamous pairs with any females in the tank.
Are Firemouth cichlids mean?
Firemouth Cichlids are perfect fish for beginners. Even though they can be quite aggressive while spawning, they are quite hardy fish. They are a colorful addition to your tank with their bright red mouth and also bring interesting territorial behavior.
How long does it take for a firemouth cichlid to grow?
Re: Firemouth growth rate Jewel cichlid and convict are fast growers at early stages. I haven’t had any FM in almost 20 years, but what I do remember of their growth rate is that they grow a little slower to begin with but over the course of 4-5 years it can end up being pretty similar.
Are Firemouth cichlids good parents?
They tend to be faithful partners as one male sticks to one female without giving any other female attention. Plus, they are easy to breed and are yet wonderful parents. Firemouths will make a great addition to the home aquarium.
Can I keep just one cichlid?
Can cichlids live alone? When provided with clean water and food, in theory most cichlids are able to survive alone. However it is best to keep at least a breeding pair or more to allow them to thrive. The only cichlid that is often kept alone is the Oscar.
Can you keep angelfish with firemouth?
If you’ve got a firemouth that’s mellow with your angels that’s fine, but doesn’t mean adding a few more is a good idea, especially in a 4 ft tank.
Why are my cichlids kissing?
Most cichlid movements are either threats or flirting. Shimmying or shaking of the fins and tail are usually signs of flirtation. I’ve also seen circular chasing and nipping or kissing (where the two fish grab each other’s mouths) prior to mating. Chasing across the tank is more often a sign of aggression.
Can guppies live with Firemouth cichlids?
Firemouth Cichlids will also accept live brine shrimp, guppies, ghost shrimp, bloodworms, mealworms, and blackworms.
Will my cichlid eat her babies?
Unlike the majority of fish, who will happily eat their babies, male and female jewel cichlids team up to take care of their fry. However, it’s not just as simple as leaving the parents to take care of the fry and hoping for the best. By helping them out a little, you can ensure that at least some of the fry survive.
Why are my cichlids attacking each other?
Cichlids are by nature quite competitive and aggressive, with one of the main reasons for this being the competitive drive to reproduce. Male cichlids can be especially aggressive towards each other during mating season as they compete for the right to mate with a female cichlid.
Do all cichlids have teeth?
All cichlids have teeth, but the function of them will be different depending on the species. Some fish have smaller rows of teeth for scraping algae off rocks, while others have teeth not dissimilar to fangs for hunting small fish.
