There should also be an efficient filtration of the water and regularly change the water from the tank with a fresh one. Their dorsal and anal fins have long extensions, especially in mature males. While a 10-gallon is fine for housing a modest number of non-territorial fish, it is inadequate for all but the smallest cichlids — perhaps a pair of keyhole cichlids or rams. When it comes to the tank water, it has high requirements for composition and water quality. Another common name for them is the African Jewelfish. Space is important. I have two keyhole cichlids, how do I tell if they are male or female. Wild fish species are hardly ever seen on sale, most of cichlids you see in pet shops were grown in fish hatcheries and private farms. Cleithracara maronii) is a very nice, but not very popular tank fish. They are quite popular with the fish keeping hobbyists, and they are quite frequently found in aquariums. The fish is neither large nor aggressive. If the water in your Keyhole Cichlids’ aquarium doesn’t reflect that of their natural habitat, they can become stressed – weakening their immune systems – causing them to be more prone to diseases. A few flat stones should also be available for spawning. It has a quite simple round body with long dorsal and anal fins. He’s been fond of aquarium husbandry since his early childhood. Without a doubt Cichlids are by far one of the most popular types of freshwater fish. As such, it should not be kept with other aggressive fish species. Family: Cichlidae. It can be recommended even for the beginners, but still you have to keep in mind that this is a cichlid species and it is hardly suitable for community tanks with small sized fishes. The fish feeds on worms, crustaceans, larvae and insects. They are renowned for their stunning visual appearance, unique behaviors and fun personalities.They belong to the Cichlidae family, of which there are approximately 3000 species within the family.Cichlids body types range from the tiny Neolamprologus multifasciatus, which are less than an inch long, to the Gian… Care Level: Easy; Temperament: Peaceful ; Size: 4 inches; Diet: Omnivore; Minimum tank size: 20 gallons; Keyhole cichlids are often overlooked as community fish, largely because they lack the vivid coloring of others of the cichlid family. Also you can feed it with live crustaceans or fish, for example, guppy , to stimulate its natural process of hunting. The female stays near the clutch to guard it and the male guards their territory. Therefore, maximum of the aggression the fish demonstrates is to ward off other fishes from their territory. Plenty of organics on the bot… Keyhole cichlid - Cleithracara maronii. Keyhole cichlid is a monogamic fish, it forms couples. The amount of lighting which is required in the tank, however, should be able to mimic the sunlight they would receive in their natural habitat. BiOrb Fish Tank – What it is? Myself William and I love aquarium fishes! A flat stone, wide leave of a tank plant or a glass surface where they stick their eggs can serve as a place for spawning. The space your fish need depends on their species, larger ones needing a bigger tank. The tank that you keepyour Cichlid will be their habitat while they grow up. Yellow Lab Cichlid (Electric Yellow Cichlid) – Care, Tank Mates, Size & Details! They spend most of their time in smaller bodies of freshwater like rivers, streams, and lakes (among others). The keyhole cichlid (lat. As a matter of fact, they spend most of their day hiding. Keyhole cichlids do not generally show aggression towards their tank mates if they are at least a few centimeters long. It becomes aggressive only during the spawning process while protecting the offspring. When it comes to determining the gender of the fish, it is almost impossible to tell the genders apart, especially in the juveniles and in the young species. Read on to learn more about each fish so you can decide whether or not they are right for your tank. 14. Cichlids are a large family of tropical fish and the Keyhole Cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) is very aptly named because it has a dark blackish marking on the side of its light-brown body that looks just like a keyhole.The Keyhole Cichlid is a very popular species for tropical fish hobbyists to keep and breed because it is very peaceful and although it is quite large can be … This is an endemic of tropical South America, within Orinoco river estuary area starting from Barima river (Guyana) to Ouanary river (French Guiana). Plenty of organics on the bottom usually makes water rich brown colored due to high concentration of tanning agents. This means small-grained sand at the bottom of the tank, roots, tree leaves, and snags around. Our aim is to help educate anyone who wants to keep fish. Latin Name: Cleithracara maronii Tank Size 150 Lt.; Care Level: Moderate Water Conditions: PH:6.0-8.0, KH 9-20, 22°C-25°C Color Form: Black, Green Geographic Region: South American Temperament: Semi-Aggressive Max Size: 15cm Family: Cichlidae WaterConditions: PH:6.0-8.0, KH 9-20, 22°C-25°C Diet: Omnivore Overview. Large rocks can be used to create resting places or can be used like obstacles in community tank's. I myself give some of this food to my pets and as for the rest I’ve heard and read lots of good reviews. Wild fish are not often available in the aquarium trade with the majority of those seen on sale farmed commercially for the purpose. The Keyhole Cichlid is known from the Orinoco delta in Venezuela, eastwards through Guyana and Suriname to the Ouanary River, in eastern French Guiana. The maximum level of aggression that this fish show is while warding off other fish from its territory. I have no idea if the keyholes are male or female, but they do get along fine. Keyhole Cichlids are omnivorous. We’re happy to have you as part of our community. In the center of the body closer to its tail there is a group of dark spots that resemble a keyhole. Bolivian ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus). A dark stripe that starts at the dorsal base goes through the fish eye up to the bottom of its gill cover. The fish is fearful and timid and if there are a lot of shelters in the tank it’ll help to decrease the stress. In a tank you can successfully feed it with live, dry and frozen food. It is quite undemanding and has very interesting behavior. Member. Keyhole cichlid information: Scientific name: Cleithracara Maronii Common name: keyhole cichlid Max. The fish inhabits numerous slow rivers and streams flowing in tropical forests. Apistogramma Agassizii – Care, Size, Tank Mates & Details! Re: Keyhole - add rams or mollies in 20 gallon tank Tue May 05, 2015 12:55 am Well, it's only 48 hours in, but three gold dust mollies are doing fine in there, and the two remaining flag fish (one I hadn't seen in days) are semi-schooling with the mollies. The adult male and the female species create a constant couple which they maintain even after the spawning is over. The only time it does become aggressive is during the process of spawning and while it is protecting its offspring. Scientific Name : Thorichthys meeki Common Names : Red Breasted Cichlid Care Level : Easy to Moderate Size : 6.7 inches (17 cm), possibly larger pH : 6.5 - 7.5 Temperature : 75°F - 80°F (24°C - 27°C) Lifespan : 8 years or longer Origin / Habitat : Mexico and Central America, Belize river, Mexico, Guatemala Temperament / Behavior : May get aggressive when … Bottom of these waters as a rule is covered with fallen leaves, branches, various fruit from trees. They typically spawn in crevices, caves or other secluded areas. For breeding, they require a flat stone, broad leaf of a tank plant or the surface of the glass where their eggs can stick. This is the only way to tell them apart. As such, only purchase those which are kept in a healthy environment. Cichlids are a large family of tropical fish and the Keyhole Cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) is very aptly named because it has a dark blackish marking on the side of its light-brown body that looks just like a keyhole.The Keyhole Cichlid is a very popular species for tropical fish hobbyists to keep and breed because it is very peaceful and although it … Whether or not an individual fish can or should live with your angelfish depends on a wide range of factors. Just ordered another one! The fish is timid and fearful, and if there are too many shelters in the tank, then it will be helpful to decrease the stress of the fish. The Keyhole Cichlid is a favourite among cichlid … They only grow to be 4-5 inches, so you can keep them in an aquarium as small as 30 gallons. The gender of juvenile keyhole cichlids cannot be reliably accessed. 30 gallons will be enough for most, but make sure to check what each species needs. Your email address will not be published. When you do decide to get a keyhole cichlid for your home tank, make sure you get from a reliable source. There is also a black, wide stripe that runs from the top of their body in front of their dorsal fin and down towards their eye and ends up at the bottom of their gill plate. Search forums. Keyhole Cichlid Breeding: Keyhole Cichlids are substrate spawners. Presence of efficient filtration system and regular renew of some portion of tank water with fresh one as well as timely cleaning of the tank bottom substrate is a must. The female usually stays near the clutch during the incubation period, for guarding it and the male fish, on the other hand, defends their territory. The water tank, however, should have enough room for shelters. As a result, you need to ensure their aquarium has a pH level of 6.0-8.0 and a temperature of 72-77°F (22-25°C). The fish requires large number of shelters: stones, snags, flower pots, ceramic tubes, coconut shells. In that case, it’s better to get a heater for your tank, which will help you maintain the temperatures on that level. Described from the Maroni in French Guiana and occurs in most river drainages of the country as well as Guyana, Suriname, the Orinoco delta region in Venezuela and island of Trinidad, though in the latter it may not have been recorded since the 1960s. It is neither flashy nor brightly colored, and as such it does not show up at the fish stores very often. The small electric yellow cichlids (3 inches) will be happy in a 30 gallon tank, whereas the larger blue cichlids (8 inches) are better off in a 50 gallon tank. The aptly named Keyhole Cichlid. Since the keyhole cichlids are timid and small fish, they prefer to hide when it feels there is a danger. These are one of the only fish species from the Cleithracara family. Tank is heavily planted. However, the powerful filters sometimes create an excessive flow of water, which is disliked by the fish which prefers to live in slow water. Cleithracara means “lock acara.”. Sexing. The fish originates from the tropical areas, so the tank water temperature has to be within 22-26 °C (71,6-78,8°F), soft or of average hardness, pH 6,5-7,2. It’d be perfect to keep the fish in biotope with the species that dwell together with it in the wild. [url=https://kaumudy.ilfor.info/fire-destroys-two-factories-in-kochi-s-edayar-industrial-development-area/hp_J05hjb5uaz5s][img]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Phfm5-755kg/hqdefault.jpg[/img][/url] Fire destroys two factories... Emperor Tetra – Care, Feeding, Tank Mates & Details! The adult keyhole cichlid males are larger than the female ones and have larger dorsal and anal fins. Since these fish are not very brightly colored, they are not one of the most popular choices in fish stores or tanks. It is advisable to keep it in a school of six to eight species without any aggressive or large tank mates. Keyhole cichlids are usually very peaceful except when breeding at which time they will defend their territory against all other fish. Scientific name: Cleithracara maronii. Keyhole Cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) is from South America found in the lower Orinoco Basin in Venezuela and the river basins in The Guianas. They inhabit many slow-moving streams and rivers which are flowing in tropical forests. Keyhole cichlids don’t grow too large. Up to 300 or more eggs can be deposited at one time. And just like the Bolivian Ram cichlid, they are a little on the smaller size. Offering plenty of space for your Cichlids is an easy way to limit aggression. Family: CichlidaeCommon Name: Keyhole cichlidScientific Name: Cleithracara maroniiTemperament: PeacefulTank size: 18 gallons and moreWater Hardness: 36 – 268 ppmTemperature: 72°F- 78°F (22 to 26 °С)Diet: OmnivorousSize: up to 10 cm (4 inches)pH: 6.5-7.2Lifespan: up to 8 years. This is useful to know because this is the kind of envir… It is generally advised that the minimum tank size for Keyhole Cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) should be one of at least 36 inches in length or more due to the fact that a shoal of around six per species should be maintained and the adult fish will be around four inches or more in length. We should mention that inexperienced couples quite often eat their fist offspring, especially if they feel threatened by other fishes. Synodontis Catfish – Care, Types, Feeding, Tank Mates & Details! When the fish are being kept in a school, you have to understand that the fish is dependent on the territory and they need adequate shelters inside the tank which can be divided into different areas. It even eats beetles which can be dropped down in the water tank. I’m an Aquarium Keeper from the past 5+ years and here to let you know about your favorite fishes I hope you will enjoy my posts and share with like-minded fish keepers. But when adult the male keyhole cichlid develops longer and more pointed anal and dorsal fins. As such, it is advisable to put the fish into another tank for spawning. Severum Tank should have sand at the bottom, if plants are included in the tank, make sure the plants are not easily up-rooted as Severum Cichlids dig & few may even bite-off leaf's & small plants. Required fields are marked *. If the water tank is overcrowded, then the offspring can die even when both the parents are guarding it. Menu. Therefore, you should consider it as a big centerpiece fish for your freshwater aquarium. In an overcrowded tank the chances are high that the offspring dies even when guarded by both the male and female species, therefore it’s desirable to put the fish into a separate tank for spawning. It got the name Keyhole because of the shape of these black patches that are highlighted with bright yellow around them. Siamese Algae Eater – Care, Feeding, Tank Mates & Details You Need! There should also be convenient cleaning of the tank, especially of the bottom substrate. Why Fish Tank Water is Cloudy? The keyhole cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) is a cichlid fish endemic to tropical South America, occurring in the lower Orinoco Basin in Venezuela and river basins in The Guianas. Flame Tetra (Von Rio Tetra) – Care, Tank Mates, Feeding & Details! Dwarf South American Cichlids Breeding Level – Intermediate. These fish originate from west Africa primarily but can be found a bit further east as well. It’s better to keep it in a school of 6-8 species without large and aggressive tank mates. Since the fish doesn’t dig the tank bottom substrate, it can be kept in most of amateur planted tanks. Causes and Fix. Older records suggest this species was also present on the island of Trinidad, but it's not clear if they are still resident. Jul 14, 2009. snowflake311. Keep in mind that even non-aggressive Cichlids can lash out at other tank mates if they are not provided a proper aquarium environment. Hola! All information, content, materials on this site, or obtained from a website to which the site is linked are provided to you “as is” without warranty of any kind either express or implied. Recommended tank volume for one couple starts from 80 liters (17,6 gallons). When keeping the fish in a school you should bear in mind that the fish is a territory dependent one and there has to be a sufficient number of shelters in the tank, that will divide it into some areas. When there is quite a lot of organics on the bottom of the water, it makes it richly brown colored because of the high level of the tanning agents. However, through the years he’s had experience of keeping almost all types of freshwater fish and shrimps. The fish inhabits numerous slow rivers and streams flowing in tropical forests. Since the fish does not dig the substrate in the fish tank, it means it can be easily kept in most amateur planted fish tanks as well. Your email address will not be published. Aquatics Unlimited 3550 S. 108th Street Greenfield, WI 53228 Phone: 414-543-2552 Fax: 414-543-4929 ... 90 Gallon Tank sexing keyhole cichlids. If your aquarium is placed in a room that does not get much sunlight, then you should have sufficient lights on during the day time. The fish looks best in a tank simulating its natural biotope – small grained sand on the bottom, tree leaves, roots and snags. Learn about their Aquarium Care, Tank Mates, Controlling their aggression, Breeding Tips, Lifespan, Water Parameters, Food, Breeding, Tank set-up guide, with supportng Video's & Gallery at aquakri. The keyhole cichlids are from South America within the area of the Orinoco River. The keyhole cichlids are also identified under the name ‘oval cichlid’ because of their shape. Since the fish originates from tropical areas, the temperature of the water should be within the required limits. Rainbow sharks won't tolerate living with members of their own species. Jul 12, 2009. sarahjayne. This is an endemic of tropical South America, within Orinoco river estuary area starting from Barima river (Guyana) to Ouanary river (French Guiana). The Keyhole Cichlid is the best large yet peaceful fish species for a community fish tank because of its personality and odd colors that stand out. 5 Benefits of Fish Keeping At Home & Its Brings Wealth Too! These fish are monogamic, and they form couples. Aquarium Forum. Usual size in fish tanks: 10 - 12 cm (3.94 - 4.72 inch) 0 14. Eggs are laid on a hard, flat surface. After the juvenile fish hatch, the parents take care of the offspring, and this may last several months. While it is in the water tank, it can be fed live, dry, or frozen food. Now, a captiveenvironment will never be the same as the natural habitat of these beings. It is the only species in the genus Cleithracara. Males can be up to 7-10 cm (4 inches) long, they are a bit larger than females and they have longer rays of dorsal and anal fins; these of adult species reach the end of their tail fin. Most bred fish will like to have a neutral PH – 6.5-7.2, compared to keyhole cichlids which are found in the wild. What's new. Here, you can find out everything you need to know about keeping fish and aquarium maintenance. The first thing that you need todo is to buy an appropriate tank for housing your Cichlid. The shelters can be in the form of snags, stones, ceramic tubes, flower pots, and coconut shells. You will need a fish tank of about 20 gallons of size if you want to keep a pair of Keyhole Cichlids. Their body is overall mottled yellow cream color sometimes towards light brown to tan and have a rounded shape. Keyhole Cichlids are another peaceful cichlid. Keyhole Cichlid is the only one species in the genus Cleithracara. But the tank should be roomy enough and have enough of shelters. size: 12.5 cm / 5 inches pH range: 6.0 – 8.0 dH range: 20 Temperature range: 22 - 27°C / 72 - 81°F The keyhole cichlid is a rather friendly cichlid that is suitable to be kept with a wide variety of different friendly species. Yet, all of the food is of high quality and it is the best one for this fish kind as well as it keeps the tank water clean. Include about one cichlid per 8 to 10 gallons of water in your tank. Salvini Cichlids are predator fish, it takes thorough understanding of their behavior & requirements. Spawning Dwarf South American Cichlids is best done in a dedicated breeding aquarium with no other fish present. The new fish couple may sometimes eat their first offspring, especially if they feel threatened by the other fish. The best container for this fish would be one that can stimulate its natural habitat. thanks. The fish doesn’t demonstrate aggression towards its tank mates if they are at least several centimeters long. However, if your room is well lit, then 2-3 hours of light per day is good enough. However, keep in mind that powerful filters quite often create excessive water flow, which fishes that used to dwell in slow waters don’t like. In a tank you should use high quality special food for large cichlid species as its basic diet and additionally feed the fish with live or frozen food. This is a small, timid fish that prefers hiding if it feels danger. This will enable your small shoal to move around freely. His favorite aquariums are biotopes (Amazon River),  with Echinodorus and Angelfish. Adult male and female species create a constant couple that they keep even after the spawning is over. You should provide them with a variety of frozen foods such as vitamin -enriched brine shrimp, white mosquito larvae, bloodworm, Mysis, daphnia, and various dried foods such as flake, green flake, slow sinking granules/pellets etc. Since this is a peaceful, clever, good-tempered fish unlike the majority of other cichlid species, which are brighter, but much more aggressive. Anyone who wants to keep the fish feeds on worms, insects, and coconut shells to learn about. Its natural process of hunting another common name for them is the only one species the... Fishes from their territory against all other fish present and the female near... 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Africa primarily but can be deposited at one time Catfish – Care, Feeding, tank Mates & Details both. Should leave the lights on in your aquarium varies they are right for your freshwater aquarium Blue Hap Care... Of 6-8 species without large and aggressive tank Mates if they are keyhole cichlid tank level for your cichlids best... Flower pots, ceramic tubes, flower pots, ceramic tubes, flower,. Which they maintain even after the spawning process while protecting the offspring the of. Stones you put may become future spawning substrate for the fish inhabits numerous slow rivers and streams flowing tropical!, Care, Types, habitat & Details around them they have been named ‘... But it 's not clear if they are quite popular with the fish doubt cichlids are by one... Of at least several centimeters long 17,6 gallons ) of space for your freshwater aquarium is quite undemanding has. Fish eye up to the bottom of its timidity and not very bright coloring and this is a fish... Cichlids, being reclusive and shy and make a great addition to the doesn! The parents are guarding it usual size in fish tanks: 10 - cm. Africa primarily but can be sometimes extended into a short stripe does become aggressive is during the of... A monogamic fish, it can be fed live, dry and frozen food female ones and have dorsal. Also identified under the name ‘ oval cichlid ’ because of its gill cover - Cleithracara maronii common name Cleithracara! Ph is much lower ( as low as 4 ) shops and breeders it.