Pantano Cichlid

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Scientific Name

Herichthys pearsei

Min. Tank Size

200 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

75-86°F

pH

7.5-8.5/3-14°dGH

Size

16"

Diet

Herbivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Best kept as a pair or with other large species like Oscars, robust Barbs and other Central American Cichlids.

Pantano Cichlid

These fish are Central American Cichlids, native to the Atlantic side of Mexico and the northern portion of Guatemala. This species tends to inhabit both freshwater and brackish environments where it feeds on plants lining the shore. Though coloration may vary according to the locality, many Pantano Cichlids exhibit an overall brownish orange or yellow coloration accented with a large dark patch along the belly. These Cichlids are not very common in the aquarium trade, but they can be a striking addition to the Cichlid tank.

Tank Set-Up

Pantando Cichlids are a semi-aggressive species that tends to be peaceful towards others of its kind, but may be aggressive toward other smaller species. These fish are best kept with other large species such as Oscars, Barbs and other Central American Cichlids. If kept in a tank too small, these fish may become very aggressive. Give the Pantano Cichlid plenty of room to swim and exericise. As with most large fish, this one produces a considerable amount of waste. Therefore, strong and efficient filtration is necessary to cope with the bio-load and to maintain water quality.

Feeding

In the wild, the Pantano Cichlid feeds primarily on vegetable matter. Because these fish have relatively small mouths, they should be offered small pellets or algae flakes – they will also feed on natural algae growths in the aquarium.

Breeding

Breeding the Pantano Cichlid is fairly easy and the fry are not difficult to raise. In preparation for spawning, these fish will form pairs and begin digging in the substrate to create a nesting site. Once spawning has occurred, both parents will take part in tending the eggs until they hatch and in caring for the fry.