Written by David Stillwell ALL ABOUT FIREMOUTH FISH Of the South American Cichlids available on the market few really compete with the Firemouth Cichlid for bold coloration and tenacious attitude. Like most Cichlids, the Firemouth is ugly as sin as as juvenile. It is not until about year one that they begin to show their amazing colors. They are named for their fire red throat and underbelly which turns a flaming bright red color. While their red underside is very attractive, what is even more be eye catching, is the subtle blue sheen and red pearl-essence that appear in their fins. A well cared for Firemouth is just simply one of the most stunning fish to behold, and that is saying a lot because there is some really remarkable freshwater fish available to enthusiasts. Aquarium size and choice for Firemouth Cichlids In the wild, Firemouths are found in the slower moving waters of major rivers and streams throughout the Central American and into Mexico and Belize. Setting up an aquarium to house this beautiful fish should mimic (as close as possible) the wild conditions found in their native habitat. Choosing A Tank: This fish will swim in the lower levels of the tank like most cichlids, but they will also inhabit and live in the middle layer of the tank, as well. Choosing the right aquarium is the difference between success and failure when housing Cichlids. For the Firemouth, 120 gallon aquarium makes a good tank size. This is true of most of Central American Cichlids because they can grow larger than African Cichlids. The smallest aquarium I could even consider is a 75 gallon tank. Readers will find all kinds of contradictory information on the internet about tank size and Firemouth Cichlids. Please keep in mind we are not merely talking about keeping them, we are talking about raising beautiful fish and that requires space. I would also prefer a tank with a Wet-Dry Filter build into the tank because it provides water flow without having to add a powerhead to the decor of the tank. Wet-dry filters work really well, they are primarily used these days for Saltwater set ups, but if you consider that the only working piece of equipment in a wet-dry filter is the powerhead, then you will realize that the filter will last your lifetime and be refurbished simply by replacing the powerhead. This means they are cheap to maintain, and they do not have a shelf life of a few years like many of the canister filters. They are also very quiet. Plus, you can find good used saltwater tank set up sometimes on craigslist for cheap... most acrylic so look for scratches that can not be buffed out, but wow! Substrate Because we are talking about Cichilds, the bottom area of the tank is very important. What you choose to use as substrate is critical for developing beautiful fish, but more so for preventing high aggression levels. The Firemouth is primarily aggressive with each other and less so with other species in community Cichlid tanks. Like all Cichlids, the Firemouth is a digger. Substrate should be made up of medium sized gravel, mixed with 20% large grade crushed coral. Use medium sized gravel to prevent tank damage or gravel getting caught in their mouth. The crushed coral will help offset driftwood. To provide housing and cave systems, line the bottom of the tank with root systems constructed out of driftwood. Well seasoned driftwood will not turn the tank a tea color and will provide a great environment for keeping this fish. Using real driftwood and not plastic is important because real driftwood allows the addition of live plants such as Anubia and Java Fern to be tied to the driftwood. This will help to break up the stark environment created by gravel and driftwood. A few rocks can be used too but if using rocks place them directly on the floor of the tank and not on the gravel. This will help prevent them from toppling over as the fish dig... and the fish will dig. Water Parameters/Water Chemistry Setting up an aquarium for the Firemouth Cichlid requires a little bit of thought about water chemistry. Substrate is important because both the coral and the driftwood balance out the others affect on Ph. Ph should range from 6.5 to 7.8 and even 8.0. Let the Ph in the tank fluctuate so long as the changes are gradual then the fish will be fine. With that being said, in the beginning the Ph must be checked so that the driftwood or calcium (crushed coral) does not cause a spike. Water Temperature should range from 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit with the warmer end of the range indicative of breeding. Aim for 74-76 degrees Fahrenheit for colorful, active fish. 70 degrees Fahrenheit will likely cause them to be very slow moving and cave bound. Water hardness can also range from 8.0 -15 degree of hardness (dH) Water Chemistry: Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, Ph 6.5-8.0. Care and Feeding The Firemouth is an omnivore and as such needs vegetable matter in its diet. With all of my South American Cichlids, I feed bloodworms as a primary food source and brine shrimp on occasion. I also stock plants in the tank such as Elodea (Anacharis) for them to eat. I also feed them the spirulina brine ship frozen cubes as a treat. Feed twice per day and three times if breeding. I feed bloodworms in the morning and then a treat in the evening. I am not really a fan of pellet food because it is too dry. Yes, they live in water, but when they gulp down pellets they can cause bowel obstruction. Not worth the risk in my opinion. Tank Maintenance 15% water changes each week, including a good cleaning of the gravel using a gravel vacuum. Filter media should be changed every 30 days, especially if using a carbon based filter cartridge. Active charcoal will sit on the shelf for a hundred years and be just fine, but once wet it has a shelf life of about 30 days. The job of carbon is to absorb chemicals in the water. After 30 days of being in water, charcoal can no longer absorb chemicals. Even though, the fish will live without changing the carbon filter, the risk of infection and toxicity grow each day the filter cartridge is not changed. Pretty soon you will see ragged fins and even hole-in-the-head disease. Neither disease is attractive in fish. Tips on Breeding The Firemouth is fairly docile except with their own kind. They are Cichlids, yet they do not normally attack other fish like a Red-Devil Cichlid will do. They are usually attacked by other Cichlids and will usually hide if there is too much aggression. They will attack each other, which they do, for dominance or if they are paired off. Keeping them in a species only tank is not only doable it is a good idea. They make an aquarium a thing of beauty when they live in groups. To breed them: One pair per tank because like all Cichlids they are very protective of their cave, eggs, and young, but they make really great parents. Breeding can be done in a 55 gallon tank. Place the pair in the tank, give them a nice terracotta pot, Raise the temperature to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Feed them lots of brine shrimp or tubifex worms. They will spawn pretty quickly. Move the parents after 2 months. They are monogamous so once bred, keep the pair together because it is really difficult to get them to breed with another fish after they have bonded.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 09:32:20 +0000
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