Scientific Name(s): Thorichthys helleri, Astronotus helleri, Cichlasoma champotone, Cichlasoma champotonis, Cichlasoma helleri, Herichthys helleri, Heros helleri

Common Name(s): Heller's Cichlid

Family: Cichlidae

Species Type: Central American Cichlids

Maximum Size: 7 inches

Life Span: 7 years

Natural Habitat: Central American rivers and streams (Mexico)

Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons

Tank Region: All over, but does like to sift sand from bottom.

Possible Tank Mates: Livebearers

Breeding Information: Most Thorichthys take a little over a year to fully mature. Once mature, pairs will form and select a spawning location which will usually be in a cave. The pair will clean off a flattened surface for the female to lay the eggs. The female will then guard the eggs/fry while the male will patrol the general area to protect the area from larger predators.

Sexing Information: Males will be more colorful, grow larger, and once mature will have long extensions on the dorsal fin and tail. Males will grow to about twice the size of females, which is a much larger differential than many other Thorichthys.

Diet: Omnivorous - Feed a wide variety of foods including but not limited to cichlid pellets, vegetable pellets, spirulina, shrimp pellets, along with occasional treats of frozen, thawed or live shrimp, blackworms and blood worms.

Temperment: Territorial

Common Diseases: None specific to species.