We know owners who have had them for years and couldn’t be happier! Once you’ve accurately determined the gender that is! Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Food : Should accept flakes and pellet fish foods. The Jewel cichlid is a fun and unique looking freshwater fish that doesn’t get the attention it deserves from the aquarist community. This is a sign that things will be happening very soon! Identification: In general, many cichlids (Cichlidae) are superficially similar to sunfishes and black basses (Lepomis and Micropterus; family Centrarchidae). This is useful to know because this is the kind of environment you’ll be trying to replicate when setting up their tank. A 40 gallon tank provides some extra room to help your fish be more comfortable and will give them the space they need. Temperament / Behavior : Can get aggressive when forming pairs. Privacy Policy | SiteMap | Aquarium Dictionary | Affiliate Disclosure | Contact Us. Species name: Hemichromis bimaculatus. The same colors are on their fins as well, but they are a bit more striped. 2.5 inch Albino Red Top Zebra African Cichlid - … The expansive knowledge of the aquarium community is the ultimate resource! Their dorsal fin starts about a third of the way down their body and continues to right before their caudal fin. They spend most of their time in smaller bodies of freshwater like rivers, streams, and lakes (among others). The female will lay her eggs on a suitable rock that has a flat surface. However, if you love the beauty of this fish and want to add them to your collection, we highly encourage it. Tank Region : Will roam all over the tank. While this is definitely something to be aware of, it shouldn’t turn you away from this fish completely. The average lifespan of these fish is around five years in captivity. Jewel cichlid is another one of all those cichlids that has gotten a bad reputation for … Origin / Habitat : African rivers. Published August 6, 2019Author: Mike - FishLore AdminSocial Media: The Jewel Cichlid originates from Africa where they live in streams and river systems with mud bottoms. From the fish name it’s already clear that african jewel fish is a beautiful one. Jewel cichlids are omnivores and will happily snack on flake food, pellets, and live food. Get your fry foods ready and plan on feeding finely crushed flake foods, baby brine shrimp or other fry foods. But when you look at the comments and feedback it’s filled with people saying their Jewel cichlids are super aggressive. African Turquoise Jewel CichlidWooded Streams. This can be achieved through the use of clay flower pots, rockwork arranged to form caves, driftwood and areas of dense planting. Also Read: Bala Shark Profile. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Jewel cichlid care, what makes them great pets, and how you can manage their aggression and keep the peace. See the table below for more parameters. There are many different types of aquarium catfish out there. Tank Mates : Not recommended for community tank type setups. The neon blue is a hybrid, not found in the wild. If these aren’t taken care of, nothing else matters! They’re active fish and you will often see them digging and rooting around in the substrate looking for food. "Moanda" is an undescribed species of Jewel Cichlid.Their pale pink bodies turn bright red during mating, and the tiny blue iridescent spots on each scale shine in the light. These beautiful Turquoise Jewels are from our own farm-raised Jewels that we’ve grown through years of select breeding. After 2 to 4 days, the eggs hatch and the parents will move them to another location for another couple of days until the babies are swimming. Males usually get … pH Range – 6.0 – 7.8 The first is it will help your fish feel comfortable and able to behave how they would naturally. Photo Credit : Photos copyright JJPhoto.dk, © FishLore.com - providing tropical fish tank and aquarium information for freshwater fish and saltwater fish keepers.About FishLore | There are several different species of Jewel Fish; all are very beautiful but aggressive members of the cichlid family.Jewel Fish will attack its own species as well as any other fish, no matter the size, when in breeding season and while rearing their fry. This means a mix of flakes or pellets and a couple days of live food mixed in each week. This is where you need to pay close attention because there are some horror stories out there when it comes to Jewel cichlid tank mates. Their head shape slants upward from their mouth and then curves into the start of their back at a very subtle bump. If you're keeping only one Jewel you might be ok, but keeping pairs will be a problem when keeping them with other fish. Constant stress can significantly shorten the lifespan of your red Jewel cichlid, which obviously isn’t fair to them. Aquarium Size : 30 gallon minimum for a pair, much larger for multiples to limit aggression. Differentiating between males and females Current Size – 4.5cm - 5cm. As always, if you have any suggestions or feedback that you think would help us improve our care guide we would love to hear from you. Aquarium Size: Diamond Jewel Cichlids will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 50-gallons of water. Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid, Greater Jewel Cichlid, Hemichromis Bimaculatus, Hemichromis lifalili, Wooded Streams. The breeding pair will form a close bond during the mating process that lasts long after their eggs have hatched. Each species of fish has its own preferences for what they like in their tank, and it’s up to you to understand what’s best for them. Jewel cichlids have a reputation for being quite aggressive fish and potentially difficult to manage in certain situations. This is one of the biggest differences in size between the captive and wild version of a fish. Decor: Diamond Jewel Cichlids do not need gravel on the bottom of their aquarium, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of … Bimaculatusare diggers however, so all plants will need to be very strong rooted or potted. This item: Quinn's Fins- Jewel Cichlid- Hemichromis bimaculatus- Live Aquarium Fish $8.00 Ships from and sold by Quinns Fins. These spots are typically a light bluish-green and cover their entire body. Failing to stay within these guidelines certainly result in health issues (some that you might not be able to reverse). Learn more. As such, your tank should be at least 120 gallons, especially if you plan to keep a pair of them to breed. While a lot of people recommend a 30 gallon tank minimum, we think that something a little larger will make your life a whole lot easier. The female will lay the eggs on a flat surface. Jewel Cichlids depending on the type can grow close to 12 inches in length in the wild. All measurements are from tip of snout to the tip of tail fin. If you have some experience and want to take care of a gorgeous and entertaining fish, the Jewel cichlid is a great choice. We prefer to play it safe when it comes to the health and safety of our fish. The body color is red that varies up to bright purple when the fish is exited or during its spawning period. Female jewel cichlid is smaller in size whereas male jewel cichlid has round shape abdomen. Lifespan is about 5 years. Jewel Cichlids reach about 5.5 inches (14 cm) in length in captivity, although in their natural habitat, they are often 12 inches (30.5 cm), a significant difference that is not present in other aquarium fish. Another common name for them is the African Jewelfish. Temperature Range – 22 - 28°C. Providing them with their own space to claim in the tank will help reduce confrontations. A large part of caring for Jewel cichlids and keeping them stress-free comes down to their habitat. Tank Mates : Not recommended for community tank type setups. Jewel Cichlids Pictures & Videos. Once they’ve hatched you’ll notice that the parents will move everyone over to another part of the tank and defend them aggressively if needed. If you intend on keeping multiple Jewel cichlids in the same tank you’ll want to increase the size by roughly 10 gallons to play it safe. The Blood Red Jewel Cichlid is a brilliantly colored, small to mid-sized African River Cichlid that is often relatively peaceful with other durable species! These fish, unlike other Hemichromis, are not very aggressive outside of breeding mode.They will work well in a 55 gallon tank or larger with large African tetras and Synodontis catfish. We’ll get more into the specific care guidelines to follow, but it’s worth noting the impact this can have on their lifespan. This Jewel Cichlid can be quite aggressive, even more so when they form pairs and start breeding. Frequently Asked Questions 1: Do Jewel cichlids eat other Fish? They can get very aggressive with tank mates when ready for breeding. Their coloration in pet store tanks can be a little drab, but with proper feeding and a suitable aquarium, they should color up nicely. Since these are tropical fish you’ll be doing what you can to replicate their natural environment. 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