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Contents
Overview
The firemouth cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) comes from Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and nearby parts of Guatemala and Belize. It is named for its bright red throat and belly, which contrast with a bluish-gray body and a dark spot on the gill cover. When threatened or courting, it flares its gill covers and throat to look bigger, and it is quite a show.
It is a medium-sized cichlid, with males reaching about 6 inches (15 cm), hardy and less aggressive than many of its Central American relatives. It would rather bluff than fight. It is a very good choice for getting into Central American cichlids with a medium-to-large tank.
Care and tank setup
A pair does well in about a 55-gallon (200 L) tank, at least 4 feet (120 cm) long, with plenty of floor space.
- Substrate: fine sand; firemouths love to sift it and dig pits, especially when breeding.
- Décor: rocks forming caves, driftwood and open areas. Set stones firmly on the glass.
- Plants: rooted plants get dug up; use anubias and ferns tied to décor, or floating plants.
- Water: moderately hard to hard, neutral to slightly alkaline; tap water in many areas is ideal. Good filtration and weekly 25-30% water changes.
- Tankmates: other Central American cichlids of similar temperament, large rainbowfish, robust barbs or large livebearers like adult mollies and swordtails in roomy tanks.
Don't keep them with tiny fish, shrimp or much more aggressive cichlids that will bully them. Always use a cycled, filtered and heated tank.
Feeding
An easy omnivore. Use a sinking cichlid pellet as the staple and add frozen foods (brine shrimp, bloodworms, mysis) plus some plant matter such as spirulina flakes. Firemouths feed mostly near the bottom, so make sure food reaches them there. Two small meals a day.
Breeding
Firemouths breed readily. The pair cleans a flat stone or cave entrance and the female lays several hundred eggs. Both parents tend the clutch and then escort the fry around the tank, defending them with their signature red-throat display. In a community tank they become territorial, so allow plenty of room.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Firemouth cichlid. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Molly Poecilia sphenops 26 gal (100 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii 32 gal (120 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare 53 gal (200 L) · 75–84 °F (24–29 °C) 
Yellow lab cichlid Labidochromis caeruleus 53 gal (200 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Clown loach Chromobotia macracanthus 132 gal (500 L) · 77–86 °F (25–30 °C) 
Golden wonder killifish (striped panchax) Aplocheilus lineatus 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Eastern rainbowfish (splendid rainbowfish) Melanotaenia splendida 53 gal (200 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Giant danio Devario aequipinnatus 63 gal (240 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Firemouth cichlid, and why.
- Cherry barb: one may eat the other due to size
- Panda cory: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Zebra danio: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Guppy: one may eat the other due to size
- Otocinclus catfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Ram cichlid: one may eat the other due to size
- Harlequin rasbora: one may eat the other due to size
- Celestial pearl danio: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Firemouth cichlid healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Firemouth cichlid need?
At least about 200 liters. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Firemouth cichlid need?
Between 24 and 29 °C, with a pH of 6.5 to 8.
What fish can live with the Firemouth cichlid?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Molly, Swordtail, Bristlenose pleco, Nerite snail and Horned nerite snail. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Firemouth cichlid be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
