Texas cichlid care
Herichthys cyanoguttatus · Lower Rio Grande in Texas and northeastern Mexico
Texas cichlids, the only cichlid native to the United States, are pearl-spotted and powerful, and adults are aggressive.
- Tank size
- 75 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 68 to 82 °F (20 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- Alone or in a pair
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Adult size
- 12 in (can exceed 13 in; wild adults average 5 to 6 in)
- pH
- 6.5 to 8
- Hardness (GH)
- 5 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10 to 15 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 75 gallon
48½ × 18½ × 21⅛ in outsideHow to keep Texas cichlids
Texas cichlids, the only cichlid native to the United States, are pearl-spotted and powerful, and adults are aggressive. One needs a 75 gallon or larger tank at 68 to 82 °F with rockwork and only sturdy tankmates; they dig and rearrange the tank.
Diet: Omnivore: cichlid pellets, vegetables, frozen foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Texas 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 Texas cichlids. Smaller fish are bullied or eaten, so these all grow to 8 in or more. They can share a large tank if you watch them closely:
Featherfin squeaker: Texas cichlids are aggressive and may fight with featherfin squeakers.
Chinese algae eater: Texas cichlids are aggressive and may fight with Chinese algae eaters.
Senegal bichir: Texas cichlids are aggressive and may fight with Senegal bichirs.
Jack Dempsey: Texas cichlids and Jack Dempseys are both aggressive and may fight.
Zig-zag eel: Texas cichlids are aggressive and may fight with zig-zag eels.
Kissing gourami: Texas cichlids are aggressive and may fight with kissing gouramis.
Green terror: Texas cichlids and green terrors are both aggressive and may fight.
Oscar: Texas cichlids and oscars are both aggressive and may fight.
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Adult Texas cichlids eat fish under about 3 in; neon tetras grow to 1.6 in.
Cardinal tetra: Adult Texas cichlids eat fish under about 3 in; cardinal tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Black neon tetra: Adult Texas cichlids eat fish under about 3 in; black neon tetras grow to 1.5 in.
Green neon tetra: Adult Texas cichlids eat fish under about 3 in; green neon tetras grow to 1 in.
Ember tetra: Adult Texas cichlids eat fish under about 3 in; ember tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Glowlight tetra: Adult Texas cichlids eat fish under about 3 in; glowlight tetras grow to 1.5 in.
What a Texas cichlid tank needs
A tank of 75 US gallons or more (such as the 75 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 300
Rated by the maker for 55–75 US gal, which covers a 75 gallon Texas cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Marineland Penguin PRO 375
Rated by the maker for up to 75 US gal, which covers a 75 gallon Texas cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon Pro 200
Texas cichlids need 68 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding Texas 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 68 to 82 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 75 gallon tank · Heaters for a 75 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common Texas cichlid problems
- They attack other fish, above all when breeding.
- The "red Texas cichlid" sold in stores is a hybrid, not this species.
- Never release one: outside their native range they are invasive and harm native fish.
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 and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Herichthys cyanoguttatus. Temperature, pH, 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.
- Texas cichlid Charles & Clint, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Featherfin squeaker Silex6, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Chinese algae eater Pseudogastromyzon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Senegal bichir Zhyla at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Dempsey Sviemeister (English Wikipedia), CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Zig-zag eel Adolsomee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kissing gourami 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green terror Dr. David Midgley at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oscar H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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
- Red devil cichlid AtelierMonpli, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Frontosa 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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