Texas Cichlid 8cm

The Texas Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus), is a member of the well-known Cichlidae family – in good aquarium conditions they can live for up to 13 years.  Adult size up to 30 cm, minimum tank size: 210 litres.

The Texas cichlid is considered difficult to keep, primarily due to its feisty temperament. This fish is not recommended for beginners and are loved for their beautiful appearance – their coloration instantly turns your tank into a neon glowing masterpiece.  They look amazing when the light hits their fins. They are very thin and scatter the light so that it looks like they have been lit up. The dots on their body will also glow under light. Their behavior is truly unmatched and they will keep you entertained for a long time.

Click for all Texas Cichlid fish at Rebel Pets.

Behavior 

These species share a lot of similarities with other Cichlids – the most obvious one is their aggressive, territorial behavior.  They are not schooling fish and will not get along with each other, let alone other species.  When it comes to which level of the tank they inhabit, they don’t have any particular preference.  They do like to dig in the substrate, move the gravel around and sometimes shred plants. Also you won’t find them hiding much, they like to be active and out swimming.

Texas Cichlid are extremely intelligent and appear to know their owners. They will push up to the front of the tank if they know it’s feeding time, almost to interact with their owner.

Tank Conditions 

These fish are the only Cichlids that are naturally found in the United States in a part of the Rio Grande River which flows across Texas and North Mexico. This is why they are commonly known as either Texas or Rio Grande Cichlids.  The water flow in these places is fast and the water is warm.  The substrate mainly consists of sand combined with pebbles. There are some occasional plants and rocks scattered around the bottom.

The tank should have lots of open space to swim, however you can place some plants sparingly. From time to time they might still use them as hiding spots, especially if you are keeping juveniles.  Although they look very bulky, they are quite agile and can easily jump out of the tank. This rarely happens, but you might want to have a lid on top just in case.

A single Texas Cichlid needs at least a 210 litre tank, but the larger the better. If you want to keep them in pairs, a minimum volume of 420 litres is needed.

Compatibility 

Unfortunately their unwelcoming attitude makes them an unlikely choice for a community tank. In the wild they usually lead a solitary lifestyle, only finding pairs for the breeding period. There are some exceptions though, such as younger individuals. Their friendliness mainly depends on how large their tank is. This means that in some cases they might be able to live alongside other species. But usually they will need to be kept separately. If you want to try keeping them in the same tank with other species, you will need to start with juveniles.  They will need a large enough tank so they can form their own territories.

The youngsters should be kept with other non-aggressive fish. However, when these Cichlids grow up their behavior quickly changes. They become very aggressive, picking on almost any other fish.  If you don’t have an option to keep them separately, you might try placing them in the same tank with Giant Gouramis, Plecos, Tambaqui, Eels, other Catfish or even Knifefish.

Feeding

These fish are omnivores with a huge appetite and will gladly feed on almost anything. In the tank they can be fed all sorts of foods ranging from frozen to live to plant based.  To make sure that your fish stays healthy try to diversify their diet as much as possible.  You might consider feeding bloodworms, frozen shrimp, crustaceans, artificial and live foods. You can also try adding plant-based flakes from time to time to keep things fresh.  These fish are very sturdy and do not require any additional nutritional supplements. The best possible supplement is a rich and high-quality diet.  Avoid feeding them mammalian meat, as you can do with some other Cichlids.  These fish are also pretty messy and it is recommended to feed them small portions, two times a day.

Care

Obesity with Texas Cichlid is a big problem.  It is closely related to overfeeding, and can lead to deterioration of organ function and behavioral changes. It is very important to monitor what your fish eats. To avoid overeating simply keep the portion size the same, it should be about 10% of the total weight of the fish.

The Texas Cichlid is a sturdy species that is not prone to any particular disease. But there are some common diseases that no fish is immune from – one of them is fin rot. This happens when the fish damages their skin. If the cut is deep enough, it will penetrate the scales and can cause infection.  To avoid this try making sure that the substrate in your tank is always nicely filtered with no sharp edges sticking out of the bottom. Also make sure to regularly trim the plants if you have species with hard stems.