Easy to moderate
Firemouth Cichlid (Thorichthys meeki)
23–30°C · pH 6.5–8 · 200L
£4.99
A hard-water East African mouthbrooding cichlid with territorial male colour and fascinating brood care. Best for planned African cichlid aquariums, not small peaceful communities.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Astatotilapia burtoni
Burton's Mouthbreeder bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
A hard-water East African mouthbrooding cichlid with territorial male colour and fascinating brood care. Best for planned African cichlid aquariums, not small peaceful communities.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Burton's Mouthbreeder (Astatotilapia burtoni) is a hard-water East African cichlid with real behaviour to watch: territorial male displays, strong colour shifts and maternal mouthbrooding. It is also traded as Burton's Nigerian Mouthbreeder, although the species is best understood from the Lake Tanganyika basin and associated waterways rather than as a general Nigerian cichlid.
This is a moderate-care fish for keepers who can provide hard, alkaline water, space, structure and sensible sex ratios. It is not a small peaceful community fish, and it should not be bought as a tank cleaner. In the right African cichlid setup it becomes an intelligent, confident centrepiece with much more interest than a simple colour fish.
SKU 0101 is the 4-5 cm size variant and is live in stock at the time of this refresh. Larger sibling variants may appear on the same Shopify product when supplier stock is available, but each size keeps its own SKU, price and live inventory.
| Scientific name | Astatotilapia burtoni |
|---|---|
| Common names | Burton's Mouthbreeder, Burton's Nigerian Mouthbreeder, Burton's Hap |
| Family | Cichlidae, haplochromine African cichlid |
| Sale size | 4-5 cm on SKU 0101; sibling sizes may appear as 0100 and 0102 |
| Adult planning size | Usually plan around 12 cm in aquariums; FishBase records males to 15 cm SL |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive, territorial, best kept with experience |
| Water | Hard alkaline freshwater; about 20-25C, pH roughly 8.4-9.0, moderate to high hardness |
| Diet | Quality cichlid pellets or flakes, spirulina/vegetable matter and small frozen foods |
FishBase places Astatotilapia burtoni in Cichlidae and records it from Lake Tanganyika and associated rivers, including waterways linked with the Lukuga, Malagarazi and Rusizi systems. The habitat note is important: this is not only a rock-face lake specialist. FishBase describes slow streams, river mouths and shallow lake areas near rivers, while aquarium profiles describe a fish that uses open swimming space, sand, rocks and territorial boundaries.
The older trade name Haplochromis burtoni still appears in aquarium literature, but the cleaned scientific anchor for this listing is Astatotilapia burtoni. The supplier image and Petra row identify the same species group, so the exact source photo is being kept as supporting media rather than replacing the existing AI gallery.
Use a long aquarium with open swimming room at the front and rockwork toward the back and sides. A 120 litre aquarium is a practical minimum for a carefully managed small group, but a four-foot tank gives better territory spacing and is a kinder long-term choice. Sand or fine smooth gravel works well, and rocks should create breaks in line of sight so females and subordinate fish can move away from a dominant male.
Keep the water hard and alkaline. Petra and FishBase both support a cooler tropical range around 20-25C with high pH, so avoid soft acidic community-tank conditions. Stable pH, mature filtration and oxygen matter more than chasing a decorative aquascape. These cichlids produce waste and feed assertively, so use strong biological filtration, sensible stocking and regular water changes.
Burton's Mouthbreeder is an omnivore. Feed a quality cichlid pellet or flake as the staple, then rotate in spirulina-rich food, small frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, mysis, chopped shellfish or similar protein foods. Small regular feeds are better than heavy meals. A fish that is being bullied may hang back at feeding time, so watch every individual, not only the dominant male.
Good diet has a visible effect. Males colour more strongly when settled, females hold better condition before brooding, and the whole group is less likely to suffer from poor water quality caused by uneaten food. If nitrate creeps up, reduce feeding and improve maintenance rather than adding more products.
The appeal of Astatotilapia burtoni is behaviour. Dominant males display, defend a territory and intensify in colour; subordinate males and females remain plainer. This social flexibility is one reason the species is widely used in behavioural research. In an aquarium, the same behaviour means you must design for pressure relief: space, visual barriers and a group structure that does not leave one fish constantly targeted.
Choose tank mates carefully. Other robust African cichlids of similar size can work in larger hard-water setups, but mixing random Malawi, Tanganyika and community fish without a plan often causes stress. Avoid delicate tetras, tiny rasboras, ornamental shrimp, slow fancy fish and anything that cannot compete for food. Synodontis catfish and selected hardy cichlids may be considered in spacious aquariums with matching water requirements.
This species is a maternal mouthbrooder. A displaying male courts a receptive female, eggs are collected by the female and the developing young are protected in her mouth. Aquarium sources describe females hiding and feeding little while brooding, so do not chase or net a brooding female unless there is a clear welfare reason. Stress can cause early release or loss of the brood.
Breeding is possible for experienced keepers, but it should be planned. Use a calm group, excellent water quality and enough cover for females. Newly released fry need tiny foods such as newly hatched brine shrimp or suitable fry food, and they must be protected from adults and other fish.
Most problems with Burton's Mouthbreeder come from mismatch rather than mystery disease: soft acidic water, cramped space, unstable filtration, excessive male pressure, poor oxygen or overfeeding. Quarantine new arrivals where possible, match temperature and pH gradually, and avoid adding this species to a young aquarium that has not matured biologically.
Watch for clamped fins, hiding, rapid breathing, damaged lips or fins, loss of appetite and a fish being excluded from food. These are early signs that the setup or social balance needs attention. Do not medicate the display tank casually; identify the likely cause first and protect any sensitive tank mates.
Use this planning section to match Burton's Mouthbreeder to the right aquarium before you choose a size variant. The fish is hardy once settled, but it behaves like a real African cichlid: territorial, confident at feeding time and much happier when the tank layout gives weaker fish somewhere to move away from a displaying male.
| Planning point | Best choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Tank length | Four-foot aquarium preferred; smaller tanks only for short-term or very careful groups | Territory pressure is easier to manage when fish can break line of sight. |
| Layout | Open front, sand or fine smooth gravel, rock piles and shaded gaps | The species uses shallow margins, river mouths and structured territory rather than a bare tank. |
| Group style | One male with several females where possible | This spreads attention and reduces pressure on a single female. |
| Water style | Hard, alkaline, oxygen-rich freshwater | Soft acidic community conditions are the wrong direction for this fish. |
| Keeper fit | Best for cichlid keepers with a plan | It is rewarding, but not a random peaceful community fish. |
FishBase describes Astatotilapia burtoni from slow streams, river mouths and shallow lake areas near rivers, with females mouthbrooding the young. In aquariums, that translates into stable mineral-rich water, mature filtration and enough oxygen for active cichlid behaviour. Keep the numbers steady rather than chasing daily adjustments.
| Care area | Target for this listing | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | About 20-25C | Avoid overheating a hard-water cichlid tank just because many tropical community fish run warmer. |
| pH | Alkaline, roughly 8.0 plus where your tap water supports it | Stability is more important than forcing a perfect number with sudden chemical changes. |
| Hardness | Moderate to high | Use mineral-rich tap water or a tested buffer plan if your area is very soft. |
| Filtration | Mature biological filter with good surface movement | Cichlids feed eagerly and produce waste; oxygen and nitrate control matter. |
| Water changes | Regular smaller changes | Keep nitrate under control without shocking pH or temperature. |
Burton's Mouthbreeder is omnivorous with a carnivorous leaning, so use a varied cichlid diet rather than one rich food every day. Watch the whole group at feeding time: dominant fish often eat first, while brooding females or subordinate fish may hang back.
| Food type | How to use it | Watch point |
|---|---|---|
| Cichlid pellet or flake | Staple food for most feeds | Choose a size the 4-5 cm fish can take cleanly. |
| Spirulina or vegetable-rich food | Rotate through the week | Helps avoid an over-heavy protein routine. |
| Frozen brine shrimp, daphnia or mysis | Small portions as conditioning food | Remove leftovers and keep water quality tight. |
| Brooding female care | Offer calm spaces and low stress | Females may feed less while holding eggs or fry. |
If you are building a hard-water cichlid aquarium, start with the broader African cichlids range and compare adult size, water needs and temperament before mixing species. For a wider view of related stock, the cichlid collection is useful, but do not mix soft-water dwarf cichlids, delicate community fish and Burton's Mouthbreeder just because they share the word cichlid.
| Tank mate type | Fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Similar robust African cichlids | Possible in a planned hard-water setup | Match size and aggression, and provide enough territory. |
| Synodontis-type catfish | Possible in larger aquariums | They can handle harder water and active cichlid company when sized correctly. |
| Small tetras, rasboras or shrimp | Avoid | They are too small, too soft-water focused or too likely to be bullied/eaten. |
| Fancy slow fish | Avoid | Long fins and slow feeding are a poor match for assertive cichlids. |
| Multiple males | Only with space and experience | Dominant males can pressure subdominant males badly in cramped tanks. |
This Shopify product can carry more than one supplier size. The smaller 4-5 cm fish is usually the easiest to settle into a new group, while larger sizes show shape and colour sooner but need more space from day one. Stock, price and availability are live per variant, so choose the size that fits your actual aquarium rather than only the biggest fish available.
| SKU | Listed size | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 0101 | 4-5 cm | Good for building a young group and letting fish settle together. |
| 0100 | 5-7 cm | Useful when available if you want a stronger mid-size fish. |
| 0102 | 7-9 cm | Best for larger established aquariums with territory already planned. |
Before ordering, check the live variant selector for the exact size and stock state. SKU 0101 is in stock at this refresh, so the SERP copy can mention our Live Arrival Guarantee and current first-order offer naturally. Use WELCOME10 on your first eligible Tropical Fish Co order, and read the Live Arrival Guarantee conditions before delivery day.
We pack live fish in insulated materials suitable for UK courier conditions and only send fish that are fit to travel. For Burton's Mouthbreeder, the most important preparation at home is not a special additive; it is a mature hard-water aquarium with space, cover and a stocking plan.
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