Turquoise Cichlid (Amphilophus robertsoni)

Scientific Name(s): Amphilophus robertsoni, Astatheros robertsoni, Heros robertsoni, Cichlasoma robertsoni

 

Common Name(s): Turquoise Cichlid, False Firemouth, Blue Sifter, Robertson's Cichlid

 

Family: Cichlidae

 

Species Type: Central American Cichlids

 

Maximum Size: 8 inches

 

Life Span: 9 years

 

Natural Habitat: Mexican streams and rivers

 

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

 

Tank Region: All over, bottom

 

Possible Tank Mates: Mildly aggressive fish with similar water parameters. Multiple unpaired Turquoise Cichlids will fight or harass one another to death.

 

Description: This substrate sifting cichlid is a good candidate for stocking in mildly aggressive, community tanks. Mature males will show a bit more blue 'spangling' iridescence than the females, and have longer, trailing anal and dorsal fins. Keep individuals or established/compatible pairs of the Blue Sifter in the aquarium. Sand substrates will certainly be appreciated. Be careful - this cichlid does NOT tolerate other, non-paired members of it's own species very well, unless stocked in very large, 300 gallon (or larger) sized tanks.

 

Temperature Range 72°F - 82°F

60°F

65°F

70°F

75°F

80°F

85°F

90°F

 

pH Range 7.1 - 8.1

pH 5.0

pH 6.0

pH 7.0

pH 8.0

pH 9.0

 

Hardness 5° - 25°

0°

10°

20°

30°

40°

 

Breeding Information: This fish is a substrate spawner. Breeding is difficult due to aggression within species. If a mating pair is obtained breeding is similar to other new world cichlids.

 

Sexing Information: Males are generally larger and more colorful than females.

 

Diet: Omnivourous - does well with a varied diet of meat and vegetables. This species prefers to eat food from the bottom of the tank if the substrate is small enough to "sift".

 

Temperment: Not terribly aggressive but territorial in nature. Is quite aggressive within species so breeding in captivity is difficult at best.

 

Common Diseases: None specific to species.

 

This profile has been viewed 326 times.

 

VIEW THIS FISH ON TANKPLANNER.COM

Turquoise Cichlid (Amphilophus robertsoni)