Firemouth Cichlid

The Firemouth Cichlid is a beautiful and popular Central American cichlid named for the bright orange-red coloration on the underside of their throat and belly. With their pale gray-blue bodies accented by turquoise speckles and that dramatic red-orange throat, these cichlids are striking additions to appropriate setups. They are relatively peaceful compared to many Central American cichlids but can still be territorial, especially during breeding. Firemouths are excellent parents and exhibit fascinating breeding behaviors. Their manageable size and relatively mild temperament (for a cichlid) make them good choices for those wanting to try Central American cichlids.

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Firemouth Cichlids need territory and hiding spots:

• Minimum 30 gallons for a pair (40+ recommended)
• Larger tanks needed for groups - 55+ gallons
• Caves, driftwood, and rock formations for territories
• Flat rocks or terracotta pots for spawning
• Moderate filter flow
• Heater to maintain 75-79°F
• Plants: Hardy varieties (Java Fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne) or stem plants
• Tight-fitting lid recommended

Important: Provide visual barriers with plants and decorations to break up territories and reduce aggression.

Water Quality

• Temperature: 75-79°F (24-26°C)
• pH: 6.5-8.0 (adaptable to wide range)
• Water Hardness: Hard (10-25 dGH)
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <30 ppm

Maintenance:

• Weekly 25% water changes
• They are relatively adaptable
• Strong filtration needed for their messy habits
• Maintain stable parameters

Feeding

Firemouth Cichlids are omnivores:

• High-quality cichlid pellets or flakes
• Frozen foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp, Mysis
• Live foods: occasional treats
• Vegetable matter: spirulina, blanched vegetables

Feeding Schedule: 2 times daily. They are good eaters.

Note: A varied diet helps maintain their bright coloration.

Behavior & Compatibility

Firemouths are semi-aggressive and territorial:

• Good Tank Mates (with caution and space):

  • Other Firemouth Cichlids (as pairs)
  • Robust cichlids of similar size
  • Convict Cichlids
  • Jack Dempsey (in large tanks)
  • Silver Dollars
  • Larger tetras (in very large tanks)

• Avoid Housing With:

  • Small peaceful fish (under 3 inches)
  • Standard community fish
  • Slow-moving fish
  • Long-finned fish

Territoriality: They establish and defend territories but are generally less aggressive than Convict Cichlids.

Breeding

Firemouths are excellent parents: Egg layers: Deposit eggs on flat rocks or in caves

• Both parents care for eggs and fry
• Protective but not hyper-aggressive
• Breeding coloration: Throat turns bright red-orange
• Frequent spawners: Can breed every few months

Behavior: They flare their gills and extend their red throats as displays during breeding and territorial disputes.

Firemouth Display

The “firemouth” behavior:

• Threat display: Flare gills and extend throat to show red coloration
• Territorial: Display to ward off intruders
• Breeding: Intensified coloration during spawning
• Communication: Also used in courtship

This display is one of the most fascinating behaviors to observe.

Health Considerations

Firemouths are generally hardy:

• Ich: Quarantine new fish
• Fin damage: From territorial disputes
• Stress: From incompatible tank mates

Prevention: Maintain good water quality, provide adequate space and territories, and choose compatible tank mates carefully.