Firemouth Cichlid/ Thorichthys meeki (3 inches) Hiding behaviour

[GuppygirlSK]

Hello MFK,

I recently picked up some young firemouth cichlids and these are my first cichlids.

I have a 30 gal tall tank with sand substrate, river rock, lava rock, and driftwood set up for what was origionally a school of 6 but is now a school of 4. One individual is clearly dominant and king of under the driftwood but all 4 only hang out in the shaded areas of the tank underneath décor.

They seem to be constantly hiding and fighting for the same spots and I an concerned this is leading to loosing fish (1 of the original wasn't doing well to begin with so not including that individual).

Is this an age based predator avoidance behaviour they grow out of? Should I be providing more hiding locations? Is this 'normal' firemouth behaviour? Any insight is appreciated (water parameters are all good)

Thank you!

 

[tlindsey]

Hello MFK,

I recently picked up some young firemouth cichlids and these are my first cichlids.

I have a 30 gal tall tank with sand substrate, river rock, lava rock, and driftwood set up for what was origionally a school of 6 but is now a school of 4. One individual is clearly dominant and king of under the driftwood but all 4 only hang out in the shaded areas of the tank underneath décor.

They seem to be constantly hiding and fighting for the same spots and I an concerned this is leading to loosing fish (1 of the original wasn't doing well to begin with so not including that individual).

Is this an age based predator avoidance behaviour they grow out of? Should I be providing more hiding locations? Is this 'normal' firemouth behaviour? Any insight is appreciated (water parameters are all good)

Thank you!

Welcome aboard
Please list your water parameters. How long have you had the FireMouth Cichlids?

 

[duanes]

Being new to a tank, hiding is normal.
But if they are hiding all the time, after being in the tank a while, dither fish may be needed to make them feel comfortable.
In nature they come from Cenotes in the Yucatan where they are surrounded by live bearers such a mollies, and/or tetras such as Astyanax or both, they watch these fish to judge the threat of danger. That said, a 30 gallon tank is quite small, ( a 50 gal or larger would be better, as a grow out tank, and as adults they may out grow even that. .
FMs are not really considered predators in the sense of how many people think of predators, they are considered sand sifters and get most of their diet from small invertebrates, like copepods and zooplankton that live in the substrate, they also get about 30% of their diet from algae and detritus.
I knew an aquarist who had an old, large male, that was about 12" long. Although the average FM seem to top out around 6-8".
Although the video below does not contain any FMs, it is taken in a Cenote in the Yucatan, and gives an idea of the type dithers, and habitat that they encounter in nature.
Eden2

 

[GuppygirlSK]

Welcome aboard
Please list your water parameters. How long have you had the FireMouth Cichlids?

Temp 72F, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, nitrates 5.0

I only picked these guys up a week ago so they are still new to the tank. Talked to a LFS owner and he suggested more hiding locations

 

[GuppygirlSK]

Being new to a tank, hiding is normal.
But if they are hiding all the time, after being in the tank a while, dither fish may be needed to make them feel comfortable.
In nature they come from Cenotes in the Yucatan where they are surrounded by live bearers such a mollies, and/or tetras such as Astyanax or both, they watch these fish to judge the threat of danger. That said, a 30 gallon tank is quite small, ( a 50 gal or larger would be better, as a grow out tank, and as adults they may out grow even that. .
FMs are not really considered predators in the sense of how many people think of predators, they are considered sand sifters and get most of their diet from small invertebrates, like copepods and zooplankton that live in the substrate, they also get about 30% of their diet from algae and detritus.
I knew an aquarist who had an old, large male, that was about 12" long. Although the average FM seem to top out around 6-8".
Although the video below does not contain any FMs, it is taken in a Cenote in the Yucatan, and gives an idea of the type dithers, and habitat that they encounter in nature.
Eden2

Hello and thank you for the wonderful information, I look forward to that video, as a fisheries biologist in Canada I love to replicate natural environments whenever possible.

I understand the 30 gallon is not the largest tank however I live in a very small apartment while I finish the last 8 months of my degree. I would love to have a larger tank by this time next year. We planned this 30 gallon to only house one pair of FM's and we have a school of 6 corydoras ready to be added to the tank once we determine the pair. Since it is a newer tank we didn't want to put both fish in and overload the beneficial bacteria!

That is one impressive male! I currently have Xtreme cichlid pellets for food and will be adding live food once they are closer to breeding size. We have access to whiteworm cultures and a variety of other zooplankton.

Thank you so much for responding!

 

[duanes]

If it were me, and a 30 gal tank was my max, I would have chosen different species, such as Apistogramma, Amatitlania nanoluteus, or another of the hundreds dwarf cichlids available, and that are adaptable to such a small tank.
Its not about trying to adapt large fish to a small tank just because we want, or like them (this usually ends badly, as you are already experiencing), its about choosing the right species for the space we have to work with, and because there are over 3000 species of cichlid known, there are a host of choices. I believe with FMs in that size tank, things will probably only worsen as they grow.
To me most cichlids need 10 gallons per inch of adult size, so a 30 gallon tank is only big enough for species that max out at 3".
A. nanoluteus below.

 

[GuppygirlSK]

If it were me, and a 30 gal tank was my max, I would have chosen different species, such as Apistogramma, Amatitlania nanoluteus, or another of the hundreds dwarf cichlids available, and that are adaptable to such a small tank.
Its not about trying to adapt large fish to a small tank just because we want, or like them (this usually ends badly, as you are already experiencing), its about choosing the right species for the space we have to work with, and because there are over 3000 species of cichlid known, there are a host of choices. I believe with FMs in that size tank, things will probably only worsen as they grow.
To me most cichlids need 10 gallons per inch of adult size, so a 30 gallon tank is only big enough for species that max out at 3".
A. nanoluteus below.

I would have loved to have apistos or rams both of which I 100% agree would be more appropriate for the tank however my area only has one fish store and they only carry FM, Peacocks, and Oscars so I was going with the most appropriate species available with intent for a larger tank for the adult pair in the future. I am by no means advocating that a 30 gal is the ideal size for adults or for any more than to grow out some younger ones in. I am simple doing the best with what I have available to me while trying to enjoy a new aspect of the hobby.