Firemouth cichlid

Size: 15cm (5.9”)
Temp: 24-30°C
PH: 6.8-8.0 (usually kept around 6.8/7 in store)
Diet: flake, granules, cichlid pellets, frozen/live/freeze dried foods

Tank Requirements: These fish like slow moving waters with a riverbed consistency (think sandy bottom with some fine gravel through it and some smooth rocks laying around). There should be dense vegetation along the side with some leaf debris and bits of wood. This will help to darken the water and show off this fish’s beautiful colouration. The sand helps with their diet and activities as they like to sift through sand, like geophagus fish, and anything that isn’t edible gets thrown out via their gills so it is imperative that the sand and gravel is soft / rounded. Caves made by smooth rocks, upturned flower pots, or large cavernous wood would be greatly appreciated by this beautiful species, but make sure to leave space at the front for open swimming. Planting should be secured to wood or rocks (flourish glue can help with this) to avoid it being dug up when sifting. They do not tolerate high nitrate, it can cause serious health problems, so a good level of filtration is required as well as frequent water changes, or a larger tank. Tank wise this fish will appreciate a tank that is larger than 3 to 4ft to give it room to grow and thrive. 

Tank mates: FIiemouths go fantastic with severum, blue acara, rainbow cichlids, and sajica cichlids. Alternativly you can keep then with rainbows or larger barbs (anything bigger than a full size suberti barb would be ideal). Catfish are fine as are plecos and algae eaters (with the exception being if your firemouth tries to breed, in which case all tank mates should be reconsidered)