Keyhole Cichlid
Cleithracara maronii
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 8–12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 150 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Species profile
Kelberi Peacock Bass
Cichla kelberi
Common names: Kelberi Peacock Bass, Yellow Peacock Bass
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 50 cm
Typical adult length 35–50 cm.
Up to 50 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Specialist shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A large golden peacock bass that remains smaller than some congeners but still requires a huge, heavily filtered aquarium.
Appearance and Identification
Adults are golden to olive with three dark bars, pale spotting on the fins and rear body, and a strong caudal ocellus.
The pale spotting and golden adult colour are useful, but young Cichla are difficult to identify. Confirm provenance.
Adult males may become larger and develop a temporary forehead hump during breeding.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 4,800–6,000 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 1200–1800 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 1200 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 250 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 3
- Activity level
- High
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- High
Provide a custom aquarium with several metres of swimming length, powerful filtration, high oxygen, secure lids, and robust décor.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An active predatory cichlid with a strong feeding response and territorial breeding behaviour.
Keep singly, as a pair, or in a group only in very large systems. Size mismatches can lead to cannibalism.
Breeding pairs defend broad open areas.
Only with similarly large robust fishes that cannot be swallowed. Avoid small fish, shrimp, and slow delicate species.
Water Parameters
Warm clean water and stable chemistry are essential. Adults produce heavy waste.
Parameter caveat
Its smaller size relative to other Cichla does not make it suitable for an ordinary aquarium.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Predator
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Large carnivore pelletUse as the main balanced food once accepted.
- Whole shrimp, mussel, or fish fillet piecesOffer unseasoned marine-derived pieces in suitable sizes.
- EarthwormsA useful occasional whole-food item from a clean source.
- Frozen krillUse in rotation rather than as the sole diet.
A predatory piscivore best maintained on balanced large pellets and varied whole foods.
Train juveniles away from live fish. Do not use mammal or poultry meat.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 28 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7
- Brood or egg count
- Several thousand eggs.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpSuitable after yolk absorption for most cichlid fry.
- Crushed high-quality cichlid pelletIntroduce gradually as fry grow.
- Finely chopped frozen cyclopsUseful supplementary food for larger fry.
A biparental substrate spawner that clears a broad site and guards a large clutch and fry.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Brazil, South America
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater River, Reservoir, Rocky Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Freshwater Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium, Very Large Freshwater Aquarium
- Audience level
- Specialist
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Cichla
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Leopold’s Angelfish
Pterophyllum leopoldi
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10–15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 250 litres
- Temperature
- 25–29 °C
Megasema Eartheater
Geophagus megasema
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 15–22 cm
- Minimum tank
- 400 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Mirabilis Eartheater
Geophagus mirabilis
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 14–20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 350 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C