Texas Cichlid(Herichthys cyanoguttatus)

Common Name:

Texas Cichlid.

Other Name:

Rio Grande perch.

Scientific Name:

Herichthys cyanoguttatus.

Family:

Cichlidae.

Class:

Central American Cichlid.

Distribution:

Texas, and Northern Mexico.

Size:

Texas males normally reach sizes up to 12 inches while females nearer 10 inches.

Diet:

They are omnivores. Foods such as pellets, some flake foods, krill, blood worms are readily accepted and a live and/or frozen treat now and then would be great in the form of bloodworms and brine shrimp. They are not fussy eaters.

Water Temperature:

Approx 60-77 degrees Fahrenheit (15-25 Celsius).

Water Chemistry:

Medium hard water.

pH:

7.0-8.0.

Life Span:

15 plus years.

Minimum Recommended Tank Size:

Single specimen should be kept in a 75g. Pairs should be kept in 125g with divider close by, and with tank mates a 125g is necessary.

Description:

Texas cichlids are normally a light grey with many small turquoise dots all over its body. They are normally confused with the carpinte but the difference is the carpinte has fewer larger spots that are normally a yellowish green rather than small bluish ones giving it the name "Green texas". The texas has a black spot in the centre of the body and one at the base of its tail that normally nearly if not completely vanishes with age. There are normally 3 black bars directly behind the spot in the middle of the body that intensify during spawning and the underside of the fish becomes completely black when in breeding coat. The texas is pretty nasty temperamental wise depending on the fish in question's personality. I've heard of some being chased by convicts, while I've heard of some dispatching midas and jags. They aren't exactly a community fish either way unless given a large enough space. Tank mates would include convicts as dithers or other larger central/south American cichlids like Midas, dempsey's (with caution) managuense. Other dithers may include tinfoil barbs and silver dollars. Texas males normally reach sizes up to 12 inches while females are more around 10 inches.

Sexing:

Sexing these fish is usually via a dark blotch in the base of the dorsal fin. Some have claimed males to have humps only but I've seen and have a female myself that have humps too, so this is inaccurate normally with texas cichlids. Neither sex grows a large hump, more like a small knot protruding. The male of the species as with most will be larger upon maturity.

Breeding:

These cichlids are very easy to spawn. Females are ready to breed by 2-3 inches. The female will clean off a piece of slate or flat surface and lay up too 500-1000 eggs with the male following up and fertilizing them. Both parents prior to hatching dig a small pit for transfer. The female will now tend to the eggs while the male guards the perimeter. The pair's aggression is now at it's peak. A few "targets" like silver dollars or anything too fast must be used now to take some of the aggression from the male off of the female. Either that or a divider is most likely the case here unless you want to see its natural behaviour. The eggs hatch after 3-5 day's and the female will help the young out of the sacs. They are then transferred to the pit and stay there for another 5-8 days when the young then become free swimmers that feed off organic matter and can be fed after about another weak with baby brine, cyclops, crushed flake. The young should be removed upon reaching 3/4 inch.

Nomenclature:

The texas cichlid has been stable in the Herichthys genus for quite a while now but could also be found listed under Cichlasoma still as with most species.

Miscellaneous:

The Texas is the only cichlid in the family taking residence in the United States. It is used as a game fish in southern Texas and northern Mexico and normally called the "Rio Grande perch" in the sport. Though I don't want to go fishing for them for sport, I would like to go down and catch me an F0 of this species, as they are incredible in the wild holding an intense teal colouring in the slightly larger spots than seen in the hobby.