The natural habitat for the Texas Cichlid is in the Rio Grande drainage basin in Texas and northern Mexico. It is the only cichlid native to the United States. The Texas Cichlid has been introduced to waters in Florida and other parts of Mexico. In the wild, it lives in densely planted pools and rivers.
This fish is also known as the Rio Grande Cichlid. The scientific name for the Texas Cichlid is Herichthys cyanoguttatus. A Green Texas Cichlid can be found in stores, but it is a different species by the name of Herichthys carpintis. A Red Texas Cichlid is not a Texas Cichlid but a hybrid of the Herichthys and Amphilophus species.
Traits of the Texas Cichlid
The Texas Cichlid is a large fish and grows in excess of 12 inches. Its body is oval with a concave head. The male species develops a hump on its forehead, which is a common trait in many cichlids. Body color ranges from pearly yellow-gold to dark brown with gold and turquoise spots on each scale. The iris of its eyes, in well-maintained water, will display an orange-red coloration.
There are three black bars on its body but they are not prominent in some specimens. The underside of its body has a reddish hue but will turn black on the female during breeding. In addition, the three black bars will become more pronounced when breeding.
Aquarium Conditions for the Texas Cichlid
Due to the large size of the Texas Cichlid, it produces a large amount of waste. Therefore, a heavy-duty filter such as a canister or an outside hanging filter is recommended. Water changes of 15% to 25% should be done on a bi-weekly basis. Texas Cichlids do not like older tank water.
- Water temperature is best between 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The PH value should be between 7 and 8.
- On the DH scale, the water hardness should range from 18 to 20.
The minimum aquarium size should be 55 gallons but a larger size is recommended. The aquarium needs to be decorated with rockery and driftwood. Caves made out of rock provide hiding places and spawning areas for the fish. With aggressive fish, this is a must. The Texas Cichlid likes to dig up plants so it’s not recommended to use them in the aquarium. If plants are desired, they must be sturdy.
Ideal tank mates for the Texas Cichlid are Jack Dempseys, Oscars, Green Terrors, Red Terrors, Pike Cichlids or Red Devils. It should only be combined with fish that can fend for themselves and will not tolerate being bullied.
The Texas Cichlid is not a picky eater and will take flake food, pellets, frozen food, and live food such as mealworms or insects. It will even eat pieces of ground beef or fish. Its diet should be supplemented with pieces of lettuce or zucchini.
Breeding the Texas Cichlid
The Texas Cichlid is a prolific breeder and offers excellent parental care. The best way to establish a breeding pair of fish is to buy six to eight fry and let them grow up and select their own mates. The Texas Cichlid becomes sexually active when it reaches four inches in length.
The female will lay up to 300 eggs in one spawn. Within 78 hours, the eggs will hatch and the babies will be free-swimming. The babies can be fed finely ground flake food or baby brine shrimp. Within a month, the fry can be moved to their own grow out tank.
With clean water and control over aggression, the Texas Cichlid is a very sturdy fish and some can live up to 15 years.
Douglas DuHamel - I have been in the tropical fish/aquarium hobby for the past 47 years. Over the years, I have bred over 300 species of tropical fish ...
