Dragon Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis letourneuxi)

Dragon Jewel Cichlid care

The Dragon Jewel Cichlid is an African jewel cichlid trade form sold under Hemichromis letourneuxi sp. Dragon. It is a colourful, confident cichlid for keepers who want strong behaviour, breeding interest and a fish with real presence, not a gentle community centrepiece.

It is currently out of stock, but the care guide is kept live so you can plan the right aquarium before the next availability update.

Aquarium size and layout

Plan a mature aquarium of around 150-200 litres or larger for a pair, and go bigger if the tank will include other robust fish. Use rockwork, wood, caves and broken lines of sight so each fish can claim space without seeing every tank mate at once. Jewel cichlids are substrate-spawning cichlids, so a flat stone, cave roof or sheltered hard surface may become a breeding site.

Plants can be used, but choose tough rooted plants, epiphytes on wood, or protected planting areas. During territorial displays and breeding preparation, jewel cichlids may dig around the chosen site and can disturb delicate stems.

Water parameters

Use warm, stable tropical water. Our stock records for this Dragon Jewel Cichlid give 23-32°C, pH 6.0-8.0 and 5-30 dGH, with an adult size around 12 cm. FishBase also lists Hemichromis letourneuxi as a tropical African species found in freshwater and brackish habitats, with pH from around 6.0 and hardness from around 5 dH. Stability matters more than chasing an exact number.

Good filtration is important because jewel cichlids feed well and defend territory strongly. Keep nitrate controlled with regular water changes, avoid sudden temperature swings, and quarantine new tank mates before adding them to the display aquarium.

Temperament and tank mates

This is not a peaceful community cichlid. Jewel cichlids are territorial and can become much more assertive when a pair forms or when eggs and fry are present. Suitable companions, if used, should be fast, robust and too large to be swallowed. Avoid tiny tetras, fancy long-finned fish, slow bottom dwellers, dwarf shrimp and very shy species.

The safest display is often a species-focused aquarium or a carefully planned robust cichlid setup with plenty of space and cover. Watch behaviour closely after any change to the aquascape, stocking or pair bond.

Feeding

Feed a varied cichlid diet: quality pellets or granules as the base, supported with frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis and chopped meaty foods. Offer small portions that are eaten quickly. A varied diet helps colour, condition and breeding readiness without overloading the filter.

Buying notes

When available, this product is supplied as live tropical fish through our UK live-fish courier process and covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee. Because the current stock count is zero, the page is written as a planning and care reference rather than a hard-sell page.