Jaguar cichlid care
Parachromis managuensis · Lakes and rivers from Honduras to Costa Rica
The jaguar cichlid is a Central American predator, silver to gold and spotted all over in black, with a row of bigger blotches along its side, and one of the largest cichlids sold as a juvenile: the 2 in fish in the shop can pass a foot.
- Tank size
- 125 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 75 to 82 °F (24 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- Alone or in a pair
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Adult size
- 26 in (males in the wild; 14 to 16 in is usual in aquariums)
- pH
- 7 to 8.7
- Hardness (GH)
- 8 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 12 to 18 years
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 125 gallon
72½ × 18½ × 23⅛ in outsideHow to keep jaguar cichlids
The jaguar cichlid is a Central American predator, silver to gold and spotted all over in black, with a row of bigger blotches along its side, and one of the largest cichlids sold as a juvenile: the 2 in fish in the shop can pass a foot. One adult needs a 125 gallon or larger tank with a strong filter, rocks set on the tank floor and tankmates of its own size or none. In the wild it lives in warm, still, muddy lakes, so it takes the heat and hard water most tanks give it.
Diet: Carnivore: large cichlid pellets, frozen krill, shrimp and silversides. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Jaguar cichlid tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Every likely tankmate in our list comes with a caution for jaguar cichlids. Smaller fish are bullied or eaten, so these all grow to 17 in or more. They can share a large tank if you watch them closely:
Ornate bichir: Jaguar cichlids are aggressive and may fight with ornate bichirs.
Black ghost knifefish: Jaguar cichlids are aggressive and may fight with black ghost knifefish.
Zig-zag eel: Jaguar cichlids are aggressive and may fight with zig-zag eels.
Fire eel: Jaguar cichlids are aggressive and may fight with fire eels.
Silver arowana: Jaguar cichlids are aggressive and may fight with silver arowanas.
Clown knifefish: Jaguar cichlids are aggressive and may fight with clown knifefish.
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Adult jaguar cichlids eat fish under about 5 in; neon tetras grow to 1.6 in.
Cardinal tetra: Adult jaguar cichlids eat fish under about 5 in; cardinal tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Black neon tetra: Adult jaguar cichlids eat fish under about 5 in; black neon tetras grow to 1.5 in.
Green neon tetra: Adult jaguar cichlids eat fish under about 5 in; green neon tetras grow to 1 in.
Ember tetra: Adult jaguar cichlids eat fish under about 5 in; ember tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Glowlight tetra: Adult jaguar cichlids eat fish under about 5 in; glowlight tetras grow to 1.5 in.
What a jaguar cichlid tank needs
A tank of 125 US gallons or more (such as the 125 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 400
Rated by the maker for 100–150 US gal, which covers a 125 gallon jaguar cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM professionel 4+ 600 (2275)
Rated by the maker for 63–158 US gal, which covers a 125 gallon jaguar cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM thermocontrol 250
Jaguar cichlids need 75 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature. Aqueon’s chart gives two 200 W heaters for a 125 gallon tank, and a second heater is worth having here: if one fails, the other keeps the water from going cold. Two Aqueon Pro 200 heaters, each rated by Aqueon for up to 75 gallons, make that pair. Heating a big tank.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding jaguar cichlids.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 75 to 82 °F.
We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common jaguar cichlid problems
- Any fish it can swallow is food, and it can swallow more than you'd think: its mouth opens wide.
- A pair that spawns turns on everything else in the tank, and sometimes on each other; have a divider ready.
- It grows fast and eats a lot, so plan big, frequent water changes from the start.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin, adult size and pH checked against Wikipedia: Parachromis managuensis. Temperature, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Jaguar cichlid George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ornate bichir Bloopityboop, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black ghost knifefish Vassil, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Zig-zag eel Adolsomee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fire eel Llandor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Silver arowana Qwertzy2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Clown knifefish Parkourprincess, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Glowlight tetra gonzalovalenzuela; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oscar H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Flowerhorn cichlid Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Frontosa 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green terror Dr. David Midgley at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
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