Firemouth Cichlid - Thorichthys meeki - Small

This beautiful cichlid has a brilliant red throat, as its nickname would imply. The overall body color is a speckled silver with black markings. The elongated fins are trimmed in red and iridescent blue speckles.

Firemouths can have a temperament as fiery as their name. Some sources refer to these fish as a more peaceful and some individuals may be more timid but most tend to be fairly bold and pugnacious. Use caution when keeping these fish with others as individual temperaments appear to vary greatly. They can become quite nippy during breeding. While they don't achieve as large a size as many others, they can often hold their own in a tank with bigger cichlids. They prefer a tank with neutral pH and plenty of plant cover, and rockwork or driftwood for hiding. They tend to stay near the bottom of the tank.

Feed them a variety of foods like flake and pellet as a staple diet and occasional frozen meaty foods and spirulina. Breeding Firemouth cichlids is known to be more slightly difficult. Finding a suitable pair is the challenge, but once established, the process comes naturally. They spawn on a smooth rock and both parents guard the eggs and fry. They will often dig pits in the gravel to shelter the free-swimming fry.