Post by MADMIKE on Sept 24, 2006 19:15:12 GMT -5
The Firemouth
Scientific Name: Thorichthys meeki
Home Range: Central America
Max Size: 5"-6"
Minimum Tank Size: 35 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Temperature: 72-78°F
pH: Neutral
Diet: Omnivore
Swimming Zone: All
The Firemouth
General Information
The Firemouth is a beatiful cichlid from Central America and a favorite among hobbiests. Firemouths are well known for inlafing their throat sac and extending their gill covers. These fish will need a minimum of a 35 gallon tank. Decorate your tank with a sandy bottom and plenty of hiding places. Large rocks, plastic plants, clay pots, and driftwood are all good choices. Be sure though to leave enough room in the tank for free swimming. Firemouths are best kept in species only tanks and can be quite territorial, exspecially during breeding. Be sure to keep this in mind when purchasing these fish. A 40-55 gallon tank housing a breeding pair is ideal.
Breeding Information
Sexing Firemouths is fairly simple. The male is more brightly colored than the female, and has pointier anal and dorsal fins. It can be difficult get firemouths to pair off, but once established, they are good parents and will produce around three broods a year. The female spawns on carefully cleaned rocks, clay pots, or slate dropping around 100 to 500 eggs. The fry are carefully placed into pits by the parents to keep them safe. Fry should be fed newly hatched brine shimp and or crushed flake foods.
By www.cichliddepot.com/library/american/
Scientific Name: Thorichthys meeki
Home Range: Central America
Max Size: 5"-6"
Minimum Tank Size: 35 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Temperature: 72-78°F
pH: Neutral
Diet: Omnivore
Swimming Zone: All
The Firemouth
General Information
The Firemouth is a beatiful cichlid from Central America and a favorite among hobbiests. Firemouths are well known for inlafing their throat sac and extending their gill covers. These fish will need a minimum of a 35 gallon tank. Decorate your tank with a sandy bottom and plenty of hiding places. Large rocks, plastic plants, clay pots, and driftwood are all good choices. Be sure though to leave enough room in the tank for free swimming. Firemouths are best kept in species only tanks and can be quite territorial, exspecially during breeding. Be sure to keep this in mind when purchasing these fish. A 40-55 gallon tank housing a breeding pair is ideal.
Breeding Information
Sexing Firemouths is fairly simple. The male is more brightly colored than the female, and has pointier anal and dorsal fins. It can be difficult get firemouths to pair off, but once established, they are good parents and will produce around three broods a year. The female spawns on carefully cleaned rocks, clay pots, or slate dropping around 100 to 500 eggs. The fry are carefully placed into pits by the parents to keep them safe. Fry should be fed newly hatched brine shimp and or crushed flake foods.
By www.cichliddepot.com/library/american/