You will have to keep a couple of things in mind. Cichlids can be a daunting type of fish to begin keeping, especially for beginners. These cichlids inhabit slow-moving rivers that are warm nearly year-round. i have a 75 gallon tank with 3 firemouth cichlids (1 male and 2 females). Now that you know everything that goes into firemouth cichlid care, it’s time to decide if this is the species for you. Even though firemouth cichlids are deemed freshwater fish, this fish is able to withstand mild to moderate brackish water conditions with water salinity concentrations of approximately 10 percent or less than average seawater tanks contain (we don’t recommend this if you can avoid it though). 3 Firemouth Cichlid. Owning a firemouth cichlid may be more difficult, but it is certainly a rewarding experience. The recommended tank size for firemouth cichlids is a minimum of 30 gallons. Now, as beautiful as Firemouths are, they are well-known for having an aggressive and tough temperament! If the fish accidentally spawn, contact local fish stores to see if they can take the fry once matured or remove the eggs from the tank. Firemouth cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is very popular among aquatic lovers and keepers because of its natural care. Males will often exert their dominance by flaring and puffing out their gills which exposes their bright red throats. I’m Julia, and I used to work in a fish store for over 5 years. Better to play it safe and keep them apart. Firemouth. Tag: firemouth cichlids tank mates. I went and bought a 29 gal. As long as they deem their environment to be satisfactory, they’ll rarely cause trouble in the tank. Firemouth Cichlids usually make incredible Oscar tank mates. Typical of the majority of freshwater fish, firemouth cichlids tend to be more prone to common fish infections than anything rare. Males tend to have a brighter red-orange coloration, and their fin rays are usually somewhat longer than the females are. Tank mates that are too small might get picked on, and ones that are too big might stress out your firemouth. This is something you’ll have to navigate if you attempt to breed them. Red Devil Cichlid. Firemouth cichlid care should be pretty manageable for anyone who has taken the time to educate themselves on the care requirements of this species. Tweet. All of their fins have spots in a remarkable turquoise. This is characterized by the development of whitish opaque spots on their body that usually present on the fins and gills first. If you’re one of the many people wondering if you can pair a firemouth cichlid with an African cichlid, the answer is no. They may even play dead. Author Note: If you want to get a firemouth that lives as long as possible you should look into who you’re buying your fish from. This will keep the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates as close to 0 ppm as possible. Firemouth Cichlid Tank Mates Let’s talk about the tank mates for the Firemouth cichlids. In order to prevent aggression issues, it’s best to house firemouth cichlids with active fish of a similar size. They can grow up to a length ofabout 15cm hence a tank of around 57 liters capacity should be provided to keepone. Pin. Firemouth cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is very popular among aquatic lovers and keepers because of its natural care. 3. A pH level of 7 to 7.2 and a 75°F to 80°F water temp is a good place to start. A cichlid of this size can easily cause harm to itself or others if housed in an inappropriate tank or with unsuitable tank mates. If you don’t notice a significant improvement in a day or two you’ll want to consider one of the common medications that are made specifically to deal with Ich. Chocolate Cichlids Fire mouth cichlid may go after any fish that threaten to invade their territory. 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