Jewel cichlid

Quick facts

Adult size

12 cm

Lifespan

can live up to 7 years

Tank zone

mid-bottom

Temperament

aggressive

Difficulty

intermediate

Water parameters

Temperature

22–28°C

pH

6.0 to 8.0

Hardness

5 to 20 dGH

Tank requirements

Minimum volume

200 L

Minimum length

100 cm

Flow

moderate

Lighting

any

Substrate

sand

Driftwood

preferred

Hiding spots

needed

Open swimming room

needed

Feeding

Diet: omnivore, feeds primarily at the mid-bottom.

Omnivore that eats anything with enthusiasm. Cichlid pellets, flake, frozen bloodworm, frozen brine shrimp, frozen mysis, live food (earthworms, blackworms), and blanched vegetables. They're active hunters that chase live food aggressively. Feed twice daily. The red coloration intensifies dramatically on a varied diet with carotenoid-rich foods (shrimp, krill-based pellets). A straight dry-food diet produces duller coloring.

Compatibility

• Aggressive, especially during breeding. A pair defending a brood will attack anything in the tank, including fish twice their size. The aggression is genuine, not bluff; they cause real damage.
• Not a community fish. Best kept as a pair in a species tank, or in a large tank (200 L) with other robust, assertive species that can defend themselves: other medium cichlids, large barbs, and armored catfish.
• Beautiful but temperamental. The vivid red coloration during breeding is among the most intense in freshwater fishkeeping. The trade-off is managing the aggression that comes with it.
• Multiple species are sold as 'jewel cichlid' (Hemichromis bimaculatus, H. lifalili, H. guttatus, and others). Care is similar across species but aggression levels vary. H. lifalili tends to be slightly less aggressive than H. bimaculatus.

Habitat

Native to rivers, streams, lakes, and swamps across West and Central Africa. The genus Hemichromis has a broad distribution from Senegal to the Congo basin. The species most commonly sold is Hemichromis bimaculatus, though H. lifalili and H. guttatus also appear in the trade, often without clear labeling. All feature a base body color that ranges from olive-brown (at rest) to brilliant red (during breeding or display). The body is covered with iridescent blue-green spots that flash under light. The combination of deep red body and sparkling blue spots makes breeding-condition jewel cichlids one of the most visually striking freshwater fish available. Adult size is 12–15 cm depending on species. Males are slightly larger with more pointed fin extensions; females are rounder and often show brighter red during breeding. The species complex has been in the hobby since the early 20th century. All stock is commercially bred. They're also an invasive species in parts of Australia and the United States, where released aquarium fish have established breeding populations in warm waterways.

Breeding

Substrate spawner that breeds readily in aquariums. A pair selects a flat surface and both parents clean it over several days. The female deposits 200-500 adhesive eggs. Both parents guard aggressively. The red coloration intensifies to its maximum during brood care, with both parents turning vivid red. Eggs hatch in 2-3 days at 26–28°C. Fry become free-swimming in another 3-4 days and are herded in a tight cloud by both parents. Parental care is intense and extended; the parents actively defend fry for 4-8 weeks. Fry eat baby brine shrimp and crushed flake. Growth is rapid. Pairs spawn every 4-6 weeks and are among the most prolific cichlids in captivity. The breeding aggression is the main challenge: anything else in the tank during brood care will be attacked relentlessly.

Common problems

Aggression during breeding is the defining management challenge. In a small community tank, a breeding pair of jewel cichlids can injure or kill every other fish. The only reliable solution is a dedicated species tank or a very large tank with robust tankmates and extensive line-of-sight breaks. Outside of breeding, single specimens are manageable in community settings with medium-sized fish. Health problems are rare; jewel cichlids are among the hardiest cichlids available. They tolerate a wide range of water parameters (pH 6.0-8.0, temperature 22–28°C). Ich is uncommon except in newly purchased, stressed fish. Hexamita (hole-in-the-head) can occur on poor diets but is less common than in South American cichlids. The main non-aggression complaint is that the spectacular red breeding color fades when the fish aren't breeding, leaving a less impressive olive-brown fish.

Bioload

Bioload coefficient: 4.0 (medium cichlid; moderate waste).

Bioload coefficients are calibrated against the neon tetra as the anchor (1.0). See the methodology page for the formula and how each value was derived.

Further reading

• How to cycle a fish tank
• Stocking ideas by tank size