Cichlids · Thorichthys

Firemouth cichlid

Thorichthys meeki · Atlantic slope of S Mexico, Yucatán, Belize, Guatemala (Usumacinta)

Photo: Konstantin Gerasimov, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist

The Firemouth cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is a freshwater fish from Atlantic slope of S Mexico, Yucatán, Belize, Guatemala (Usumacinta), where it lives in river habitat. Adults reach about 12 cm (4.7 in). Keep it at 20–32 °C (68–90 °F) and pH 6.5–8.5, in calm water. It is territorial and does best in a group of 2 or more. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

20–32 °C 68–90 °F

6.5–8.5 hard, alkaline water

Adult size

12 cm 4.7 in

Swims

Bottom mostly on the floor and in caves

Keep together

2 or more a shoal feels safe

Current

Calm still or slow water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Territorial

Where it comes from

Home water

Atlantic slope of S Mexico, Yucatán, Belize, Guatemala (Usumacinta)

Usumacinta

Lives in river habitat.

The dot is placed on its home rivers, not an exact collecting site. Map: Natural Earth.

Firemouth cichlid

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Cichlids · ThorichthysLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Firemouth cichlid

Thorichthys meeki

Atlantic slope of S Mexico, Yucatán, Belize, Guatemala (Usumacinta) · river

Temperature: 20–32°C
pH: 6.5–8.5
Adult size: 5 in · 12 cm
Flow: Calm
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Omnivore
Group: 2+
Status in the wild: Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Scan for the full profile
savethelittlefish.org/species/firemouth/

Photo: Konstantin Gerasimov, CC BY 4.0

Firemouth cichlid — **Print it and tape it to the glass.** Visitors can see what lives in the tank, and the QR code on the back opens this page.

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Temperature, ph, adult size, swim level, habitat, group size, temperament, diet, behaviour, home range Seriously Fish: Thorichthys meeki profile Website
Water flow, conservation status, diet, home range, ph FishBase: Thorichthys meeki summary Website Says: pH 6.5–?
Photo Konstantin Gerasimov, CC BY 4.0 iNaturalist
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Small enough to be eaten

Cardinal tetra Celestial pearl danio Cherry shrimp Chili rasbora Ember tetra Endler's livebearer German blue ram
Aggressive and will eat the firemouth cichlid

Dovii

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Firemouth cichlid get?

About 12 cm (4.7 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Firemouth cichlid need?

20–32 °C (68–90 °F).

What pH does a Firemouth cichlid need?

pH 6.5–8.5.

Does a Firemouth cichlid need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 2.

Is the Firemouth cichlid aggressive?

It is territorial. Give it its own cave or space.

What does a Firemouth cichlid eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Firemouth cichlid come from?

Atlantic slope of S Mexico, Yucatán, Belize, Guatemala (Usumacinta).

What fish can live with a Firemouth cichlid?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Zebra (L046), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	20	Sourced
Temperature max (°C)	32	Sourced
pH min	6.5	Sourced
pH max	8.5	Sourced
Adult size (cm)	12	Sourced
Flow	Low	Sourced
Swim level (top / middle / bottom)	bottom	Sourced
Habitat	river	Estimate
Smallest happy group	2	Sourced
Temperament	Territorial	Sourced
Diet	Omnivore	Sourced
Behaviour tags	eats_small_fish	Sourced

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.