Edit Amphilophus citrinellus
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Name
Scientific name
Amphilophus citrinellus
Described by
Authority Günther, Year 1864, Bracketed
Family
Cichlidae
Common names
Midas Cichlid, Zitronenbuntbarsch
Photograph credits
All 1 credited
Summary
The midas cichlid, Amphilophus citrinellus, is a large cichlid from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, found in lakes, ponds and slow stretches of r…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
350mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 21–26°C, pH 6–8
Hardness
5–25dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A pair
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Lake Nicaragua
Writing
Etymology
Amphilophus: from the Greek amphí (Gr. ἀμφί), meaning 'on both sides' and lóphos (Gr. λόφος), meaning 'crest'. The allusion was not explained, but probably ref…
Distribution
Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Habitat
Tends to inhabit large, permanent bodies of water including lakes and ponds, although it's also been recorded in slow-moving parts of rivers. It particularly f…
Aquarium size
A tank with base measurements of 150 cm x 45 cm or equivalent should be the minimum size considered for a single specimen, but you'd need something larger for …
Maintenance
There are few fish that show less regard for a beautifuly decorated tank than these. Don't even consider a planted setup, as large quantities of the substrate …
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
One of the least fussy feeders you are likely to encounter in the hobby, most specimens will attempt to eat anything that looks as though it might be edible. F…
Behaviour and compatibility
One of them most belligerent cichlids around, you need to know what you're doing when attempting to keep a midas with anything else, and that includes its own …
Sexual dimorphism
Mature males tend to be more well built than females, and develop longer dorsal and anal fins, and a more spectacular nuchal hump. These humps only develop dur…
Reproduction
Provided you can obtain a compatible pair, breeding is fairly straightforward. A tank of around 6' in length is required, and this should be decorated with lar…
Notes
Previously included as a member of the genus Cichlasoma, the midas cichlid is often confused with the red devil, A. labiatus. The two can be distinguished thro…
References
References
No references