Jewel Cichlid

Jewel Cichlid is a very hardy and beautiful fish that can adapt to most surroundings till there are caves and a few flat rocks at hand. It is correctly named ‘Jewel Cichlid’ as it is beautiful and bright like jewel. It grows up to 6 inches or 15 cms in size. Its scientific name is Hemichromis bimaculatus. Its other common names are Red Jewel, African Jewelfish, Red Jewel Cichlid and Blue Jewel. Its life span is of 5 years or even longer. More about this fish is harmonized in the account below.

Geographical distribution

It is found in Western Africa in forested streams in the River Niger, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Watershed in Guinea and Mali.

Diet

Jewel Cichlid prefers live food. It eats aquatic insects, small fish, crustaceans, insect larvae, Tubifex, flakes, pellets etc.

Breeding

Breeding Jewel Cichlid is quite difficult because finding a compatible pair is a Herculean task. It can be done easily if you obtain a group of youngsters and wait until they pair up. When the pair is formed, it should be moved to its own tank. Provide abundant hiding places for the female. Keep the temperature from 24 degree C-28 degree C or 75 degree F-82 degree F, pH from 6.5-7.2 and hardness of water from 4-12 dH. The pair does spawning on a clean rock where 500 eggs are laid and guarded carefully. After 3-5 days, the eggs are hatched and fry are moved to a shallow pit. Till they reach the size of 1 cm, they are guarded by parents. Feed the fry with dry and live foods.

Physical Description

Jewel Cichlid is an elongated fish. Its forehead is sloping. Upper part of its body is light olive green in color and the lower part is orange or red. Its lips, cheeks and lower jaws are generally bright red. There are tiny gleaming spots in this area. These spots are yellow to turquoise in color. The fill cover is marked by a big black spot. There are two black spots on its body-one around the mid section and other on the caudal penuncle. The color of its fins is olive to red and the fins’ edge is bright red. Its body becomes dark red and some tiny glistening spots cover its body during the season of spawning.

Tank Set Up

The tank for Jewel Cichlid that is about 4 inches in size should measure 30 inches or 76 cms. It should hold 75-98 liters or 20-25 gallons of water. Larger Jewel Cichlid should be kept in a tank which measures minimum 48 inches or 122 cms. This tank should hold 190 liters or 50 gallons of water. The temperature in the tank should be 22-28 degree C or 72-82 degree F, water hardness required is 4-18 dH and pH needed is 6-7.8. There should be well-rooted plants in its tank like Anubias and Vallisneria. Jewel Cichlid is a digger, thus these plants must be well planted to avoid being uprooted by this fish. Use large roots, rocks, wood and caves to provide ample hiding spaces. Strong filtration should be used in the tank.

Social Behavior

Jewel Cichlid is a territorial species and becomes very violent and bigoted with the onset of spawning. Outside the spawning time, Jewel Cichlid is moderately peaceful towards other species. Keeping it in pairs is the best way to have it with you. Monogamous bonds make good parents and care for their young ones.

Compatibility

Jewel Cichlid gets along with Tilapia, Polypterus, Hemichromis, Cichlasoma, Loricarids (Plecos), Steatocranus, Synodontis, Pimelodids and Distichodus.

A pair of Jewel Cichlid makes excellent parents. This is not a community fish for sure. Still, if you introduce it to a community tank be careful as this fish is a spiteful fin nipper and will do that if it is not well fed. To keep other fishes in the aquarium healthy and happy, feed Jewel Cichlid properly. Take care of its requirements and keep you pet fish happy in your aquarium.