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Photo from: "Atlas Aquarium fishes", A TFH publication.

The Firemouth is one of the oldest kept species. It's beautiful colors and interesting behavior still keep it on the top of any Cichlid lovers list.

Quick stats:

Listed tank sizes are the minimum
Size:	Up to 6.5 inches (17.0 cm)
Tank:	32 inches
Strata:	Bottom, middle
PH:	6.5 to 8.5
Hardness:	Soft to very hard
Temperature:	75°F to 82°F (26 to 30°C)

Classification:

Order:	Perciformes
Suborder:	Percoidei
Family:	Cichlidae
Genera:	Thorichthys

Firemouth

Additional species photographs

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Distribution

Guatemala and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. It is also said to be found in underground waterways.

Tall with strong lateral compression. It has a large head and its' forehead is slightly curved around the eyes. The dorsal fin starts at the gill covers. In older fish the tail (caudal) fin is bent slightly in and the outer rays can get very long. In the male the Dorsal and Anal fins are longer and more pointed.

Photo from: "Atlas Aquarium fishes", A TFH publication.

The most noticeable trait of the Firemouth is its throat and breast area, which ranges from bright fiery Red to Brick Red and is the reason for the common name. With a closer look you can see a wide range of colors in the fish. The basic background color is bluish Gray, with a slight purple sheen. The under area is Yellow Green to Orange. The sides have a series of faint dark bars. A Golden edged blackspot is right behind the eyes a similar one is found at the start of the tail fin. Other Black marks with Golden edges can be seen on the lower edge of the gill cover and at the start of the clear Pectoral fins. The Dorsal fin is edged in Red and the rays of the other fins are slightly Brown with the membranes speckled with Bright Blue - Green spots. All the scales seem to edged with Red. Females are not as colorful as the males. An all around beautiful fish!

Ideally the Firemouth tank should be at least a fifty-five gallon, with rocks, driftwood and many plants. Provide an open area for swimming and displaying. They are territorial but will rarely bother other fish unless they are in the spawning ritual. Their main way of defense is to inflate the throat area, which highlights and deepens the beautiful Red color. Feeding is no problem as they will accept flake, frozen and medium sized live food. Good filtration and water changes must be provided. They are peaceful for a Cichlid and should be kept with similar tankmates. In a large tank several pairs can be kept. In short they are a relatively peaceful and easily kept fish.

Shallow shore areas of rivers with driftwood or rocks. The water can be clear murky or non moving.

Photo from "Aquarium fish"

Open water breeders, the pair will clean a rock or similar object and the female will deposit up to 500 eggs. Both parents will tend the fry as they are moved from pit to pit in the aquarium. The female is more likely to tend the brood and the male defend the territory. The fry can be fed very fine flake food or newly hatched brine shrimp. Growth is fairly fast. A healthy pair can have up to five broods a year.

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From: Wolfgang Date: 6/21/2006 Firemouths like most Cichlids range from peaceful to aggressive. Generally they are mid - lower strata swimmers who once acclimated to their environment will roam free and will not hide very often, especially if kept with other firemouths. I had some several years ago that worked absolutely fantastic with a tiger oscar and some indigenous Green Sunfish(sometimes known as Rock Bass)I caught at a local pond. From: Ali Date: 1/21/2006 I have two firemouths and they are just amazing!! I have got them in a tank with Two Festivums, Two Rams and Two Keyhole Cichlids. I was worried about putting the Firemouths into the tank because the two Keyhole Cichlids were quite small and really you have to put the Firemouths in a tank with fish around about the same size as them. I was very surprised the Firemouths were so good, they didn't even bother any of the fish, including the Keyholes. I feed the Firemouths on different foods i.e Bloodworm, Normal Flake, Tubifex and Brine Shrimp. I find giving them a varied diet a lot better, they seem a lot happier and show lots of colour. So many people feed their fish on the same food all the time and I just don't recommend it, fish like a bit of variation. I also find that I have to make sure the water condition in the tank is right all the time, because I find that the Firemouths are quite sensitive to bad water conditions. They seem to start losing their colour slightly and become a bit docile. I think that as long as you look after them properly they are a joy to watch!!! From: mikser_mitosis Date: 10/21/2004 firemouths are, behaviorally speaking, definitely one of the more interesting South American cichlids in the hobby. Their most fascinating aspects are best witnessed by keeping at least two, better three pairs together in a species tank with a few plecos or other small to medium sized non-predatory catfish. As they are (though not by definition) sand sifters in the wild, it is wise to keep them on a substrate of fine sand in order for them to carry out their natural habits. In my experience pairs will spawn in close proximity to one another and almost in a breeding colony-type arrangement, sometimes caring (though one assumes unknowingly) caring for one anothers fry at the early stages. A beautiful, relatively peaceful fish with fascinating habits and nature. Years of fun! From: Chris Date: 11/12/2001 I've kept a few of these fish with my 2 severums and they get along fine. Can be very quarrelsome with their own kind but lovely fish to look at and easy to feed. Best kept in more harder alkaline water which also promotes growth rate. From: John Date: 03/02/2002 I had to move my Firemouth, killed my Green Texas cichlid. Moved him into a 125 gal that has African cichlids. Still alive and well. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COMMENTS

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