Description:
The Ellioti Cichlid is a medium sized freshwater cichlid very similar to a more commonly known fish known as the fire mouth cichlid but are thought to be less aggressive in nature. These cichlids typically reaching about 15 cm in length. This cichlid species exhibits beautiful vibrant colouration often with a base of blue, green, red and orange hues and have distinctive vertical stripes or spots in shades of florescent blue across it's body.
These cichlids are known for sifting through sand to hunt for food and create nesting sites, often moving sand through their gills in the process. To provide an optimal environment, it’s best to use a soft substrate such as sand that allows for easy sifting because of this be cautious with aquatics plants such as stem plants, as these cichlids may uproot them while foraging. We recommend sturdier plants, such as Anubias or java fern which can be attached to wood or rocks. These plants are ideal since they cannot be easily dislodged or uprooted.
Sexing these cichlids is usually straight forward, the male Ellioti cichlid has a larger, more robust body than the female and females often display a prominent black spot on their dorsal fins when they reach maturity, although this is not always the case. Additionally, females have shorter, more rounded dorsal fins that do not extend past their tail fins, while males possess longer, more pointed dorsal fins that reach beyond the tail fin.
Temperament:
Ellioti Cichlids are generally considered to be peaceful compared to many other cichlid species, making them suitable for community tanks. However, they can exhibit territorial behaviour, especially during breeding.
Males may be more aggressive than females, particularly when establishing dominance, claiming territory or during mating rituals.
Diet:
Ellioti Cichlids are omnivorous. In captivity, they thrive on a varied diet that includes high-quality pellets, flakes, frozen or live foods (such as brine shrimp and bloodworms), and plant matter. Providing a balanced diet is essential for their health and vibrant colouration.
Breeding Behaviour:
These cichlids are substrate/cave spawners, the male Ellioti puts on a clear, showy courtship display to attract a female. Their colours (especially the red on the belly and around the gill cover) intensify, they flare the gill covers, and they extend and quiver their fins to appear larger and more vivid. Males will also perform lateral and head-on displays, shimmying in front of the female, showing the eye-spot on the gill plate, and often leading the female to a chosen nesting site. These displays are sometimes accompanied by substrate work (cleaning a flat rock or digging a shallow pit) as they prepare a place to spawn.
Pairs will pick and thoroughly clean a flat surface inside a cave, under an overhang, on a rock or make a pit in the substrate where the female deposits her eggs and the male fertilises them. Incubation is quick, eggs usually hatch in about 2–4 days, depending on temperature. After hatching, if they did not previously lay their eggs in a pit already, the parents commonly create a new pit in the substrate and move the newly hatched fry into it, this pit acts as a sheltered nursery while the fry grow. Both parents guard and tend the brood.
The female typically handles in-nest duties (cleaning and fanning), while the male defends the territory. Because they sometimes dig around rocks or beneath overhangs, it’s not unusual to find eggs placed under or beside a rock. Provide shelters (flat stones, tiles, broken terracotta pots) and clean stable water conditions.
- Species – Thorichthys Ellioti
- Common Name – Ellioti Cichlid
- Origin – Central America, Mexico
- Temperament – Peaceful, territorial and semi-aggressive when breeding
- Diet – Omnivore
- Minimum Tank Requirement – 120 litres
- Tank Level – Feed on bottom - every level
- Care Level – Intermediate
- PH Range – 6.0 – 7.0
- Temperature – Tropical 24 – 30°c
- Breed Type – Egg Layer - flat surfaces - sand
- Size – Grows to approximately 15cm
- Sex – Un-sexed
- Float the Bag: Place the unopened bag in your tank and let it float for 15–20 minutes. This lets the water inside the bag slowly match your tank’s temperature.
- Turn Off the Lights: Keep the aquarium lights off during this process. It helps keep things calm and prevents sudden temperature changes.
- Add a Bit of Tank Water: After floating, carefully open the bag and pour out about half the water into a sink or bucket (not into your tank). Then, slowly add small amounts of your tank water into the bag over 15–20 minutes. This helps your fish adjust to the new water conditions.
- Gently Move the Fish: Use a fish net to gently move your fish from the bag into the tank. Try not to pour the bag water into your tank — this helps keep your aquarium clean and healthy.
- Watch and Wait: It’s normal for fish to hide or act a bit shy at first. Keep an eye on them, and avoid doing a water change for the first 24 hours to give them time to settle in.
For more detailed steps and tips, feel free to visit our Acclimation Guide in our Education tab to help make the transition as smooth as possible for your new fish.
Ellioti Cichlid
Ellioti Cichlid
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Why Shop With us — Our Guarantee & Shipping Info
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Is Your Tank Ready? — Important Info Before Buying
Is Your Tank Ready? — Important Info Before Buying
⚠️ Important: Please ensure your aquarium is fully cycled before introducing any new fish. A cycled tank provides a stable, healthy environment and helps prevent stress, illness and even death of your new fish! If you’re unsure what this means, visit the Education section of our website and read our page on The Nitrogen Cycle.
🐟 Want expert tips for your aquarium? Beginners can start with How to set up your aquarium, while everyone can check out Aquarium Maintenece & Care for ongoing tank tips!
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