Firemouth cichlid

Firemouth cichlid ( Thorichthys meeki )

The Firemouth Cichlid ( Thorichthys meeki ( Syn: Cichlasoma meeki ) ), also Rotbrustbuntbarsch or mask cichlid called, is a freshwater fish of the family of cichlids ( Cichlidae ). He comes from the Belize River, the adjacent southeastern Mexico, Guatemala ( between Rio Grijalva and Usumacinta ) and Yucatan and get there in the lower and middle sections of rivers with low flow, sand and mud bottoms, in Yucatan in cenotes and underground connections between them before. Its species name " meeki " refers to the American ichthyologist Seth Eugene Meek (1859-1914), who described the genus Thorichthys.

Features

Firemouth cichlids are 15-16 cm long and up to 12 years old. Females are smaller. Your body is flattened laterally and high backs, the head profile steep, the mouth terminal and pointed. The fish are colored blue-gray, the back is darker, the abdomen orange to yellow-olive, the throat brick to bright red. There are 5-7 more or less clear dark transverse bands on the flanks. A dark longitudinal binding, which can be resolved into individual large stains, pulls from the upper edge of the gill cover to the caudal fin root. The gill cover has a black lacquer, golden rimmed spot. Since the scales may have red edges of the whole body, especially the sides, covered with a red net will appear.

• Fins formula: Dorsal XV-XVI/9-10, Anal VIII/7-9.
• Dandruff formula: 28-32 (MLR )

The Firemouth Cichlid is an open breeder, the store its 100 to 500 eggs on flat stones, larger leaves or roots. It feeds omnivorous and also uses algae to himself.