Firemouth cichlid care guide

Plan a tank with firemouth cichlidsSee all tank mates

Firemouth cichlid quick facts

• Needs sand or smooth, fine gravel to protect its barbels and belly.

Tank setup

One firemouth or a pair needs at least 30 gallons (110 L) in a tank about 120 cm (48 in) long, and a group or mixed tank needs 55 gallons (208 L) or more. Use soft sand so they can sift for food, plus rocks, driftwood and caves to divide territories. Choose sturdy or potted plants, because they dig.

How many firemouth cichlids in a tank?

The smallest common tank that suits firemouth cichlids is a 55 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.

Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one fish or one pair.

Water parameters

Keep them at 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 6.5–8.0 and 4–15 dGH. They are adaptable, but they need clean water and a fully cycled tank. Change 25–30% of the water every week.

Best tank mates for firemouth cichlids

These popular species share firemouth cichlids' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 27 good matches.

• Betta fish

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)

• Dwarf gourami

  7.5 cm (3 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)

• Angelfish

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 24–29°C (75–84°F)

• Tiger barb

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)

• Boesemani rainbowfish

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 26–29°C (79–84°F)

• Molly

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 24–27°C (75–81°F)

• Pearl gourami

  11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)

• Three spot gourami

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)

Avoid keeping firemouth cichlids with

• Cherry shrimp: Firemouth cichlid eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
• Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Firemouth cichlid 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
• Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Firemouth cichlid 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
• Nerite snail: Firemouth cichlid eats snails, including nerite snails.
• Assassin snail: Firemouth cichlid eats snails, including assassin snails.
• Celestial pearl danio: Firemouth cichlid can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Feeding

In the wild they sift sand for small crustaceans, insect larvae, snails and plant matter. Feed a sinking cichlid pellet or granule with some spirulina or other plant food, and add frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp or mysis a few times a week.

Behavior

Firemouths are fairly peaceful outside breeding. Males puff out their red throats to warn rivals, and pairs defend a patch of the bottom when they have eggs. They may eat fish small enough to swallow, along with shrimp and small snails. Good tank mates are similar-sized cichlids, larger tetras and sturdy livebearers.

Breeding

Firemouths form faithful pairs and breed readily. The female lays several hundred eggs on a flat stone, wood or the glass, and both parents guard them. The fry swim freely about 4–5 days after spawning and take baby brine shrimp. Parents look after the young for several weeks.

Tips from experienced keepers

• Use sand rather than sharp gravel so they can sift through it safely.
• Break up sight lines with rocks and wood so each pair can claim a corner.
• Skip tiny tetras, dwarf shrimp and snails, which may get eaten.
• Set rocks on the bottom glass, not on top of the sand, so digging can't topple them.
• To get a pair, raise a group of young fish together and rehome the extras once a pair forms.

Sources

We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.

• seriouslyfish.com
• fishbase.se
• fishkeepingworld.com
• en.wikipedia.org