Moderate
Yellow Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nanolutea)
24–28°C · pH 7–8 · 100L
£19.99
Firemouth Cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is a colourful Central American cichlid for mature, spacious aquariums with sand, cover and robust tank mates.
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.
Thorichthys meeki
Firemouth Cichlid bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
Firemouth Cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is a colourful Central American cichlid for mature, spacious aquariums with sand, cover and robust tank mates.
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
Firemouth Cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is a classic Central American cichlid with real personality, strong colour and a famous red-throat display. Older shop lists and search terms often use Cichlasoma meeki, but the accepted name used for this rewrite is Thorichthys meeki. The older name is useful search history; it should not be forced through every sentence.
The previous listing had good care information, but it was padded with repeated buyer phrases, comparison keywords and retail-search wording. This version keeps the useful depth and removes the stuffing. It gives customers, Google and AI systems a clear answer: this is an in-stock Firemouth Cichlid for a mature, spacious Central American cichlid aquarium with sand, cover, stable warm water and sensible tank mates.
| Common names | Firemouth Cichlid, Firemouth, Red-throated Cichlid, Meeki Cichlid |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Thorichthys meeki |
| Older synonym | Cichlasoma meeki, still common in trade searches |
| Current variants | 0183 at 3-4 cm, 0185 XL, 0184 at 5-6 cm, and L183 at 6-7 cm |
| Adult size | Usually around 12-15 cm in aquariums; FishBase records up to 17 cm total length |
| Minimum aquarium | 200 litres is a sensible baseline for a pair; larger is better for mixed cichlid communities |
| Temperature | 23-30 C, with 24-28 C a practical aquarium range |
| pH and hardness | Stable neutral to alkaline water around pH 6.5-8.0 suits most stock |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive; usually manageable, but territorial when breeding |
| Diet | Quality cichlid pellets, granules, frozen foods and occasional vegetable/algae-based foods |
Thorichthys meeki is native to Central America, including Atlantic-slope drainages of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. FishBase records it from the Usumacinta and Belize River drainages, and aquarium references describe warm, shallow, often slow-moving habitats with soft sediments, roots, branches, stones and broken cover.
The red throat is not just decoration. When a Firemouth feels challenged, it can flare the gill covers and show the bright red lower face and throat that gives the species its name. In a well-planned aquarium this display is usually ritualised posturing rather than constant fighting. The key is space, line-of-sight breaks and tank mates that are neither tiny nor more aggressive than the Firemouth.
Plan the aquarium around floor space. A 200-litre tank is a sensible minimum for a pair, while 300 litres or more gives better options for a community with other robust fish. Use sand or fine smooth gravel, pieces of wood, rounded stones, caves and open swimming areas. Firemouths like to investigate the substrate, so avoid sharp gravel and unstable piles that can shift if the fish digs.
Filtration should be strong but not chaotic. These cichlids tolerate a useful range of pH and hardness, but they still need a mature biological filter, low ammonia and nitrite, and regular water changes. Keep the temperature steady in the mid-20s C for everyday care. If the room runs warm, add surface movement so oxygen stays high.
Plants are possible, but choose hardy species and protect roots. Attached plants such as Anubias or Java fern are safer than delicate stems. A Firemouth aquarium should feel structured and natural rather than bare; cover helps nervous juveniles settle and helps adults display without turning the whole tank into a territory.
Firemouth Cichlids are opportunistic omnivores. In nature they sift and pick through bottom material for small invertebrates, detritus and edible fragments. In aquariums, use a quality cichlid pellet or granule as the staple, then add frozen brine shrimp, mysis, daphnia or bloodworm as variety. A spirulina or vegetable-based food once or twice a week helps keep the diet balanced.
Feed modest portions. They are confident eaters, and overfeeding quickly affects water quality in cichlid tanks. Juveniles can take smaller meals more often; adults usually do well on one or two feeds a day. If shy fish miss food, feed in more than one spot so dominant tank mates do not take everything first.
Firemouths can work with similar-sized Central American cichlids, larger livebearers, robust tetras, peaceful catfish and other confident fish that enjoy comparable water. Practical Fishkeeping has used mollies as suitable dither fish in Firemouth setups, and that makes sense because mollies can handle the warmer, harder side of the water range.
Avoid very small fish, dwarf shrimp, slow long-finned fish and highly aggressive cichlids that will dominate the aquarium. Firemouths are not usually a monster predator, but they are still cichlids. During breeding, a pair may defend a cave, stone or patch of substrate strongly, so leave room for other fish to move away.
The 3-4 cm and 5-6 cm variants should be treated as growing fish, not finished adults. They may arrive paler than mature display males and colour up gradually as they settle, feed well and find their place in the tank. The XL variant is better for aquariums with existing medium cichlids, but it still needs careful introduction and enough territory.
Firemouth colour depends on mood, maturity, sex, tank layout and social pressure. A fish that is bullied, newly shipped or kept in a bare tank may show less red and blue than a settled fish. Darker backgrounds, secure cover, clean water and a varied diet usually improve display without needing artificial colour claims.
This species is a substrate-spawning cichlid. A pair may clean a flat stone, leaf or piece of wood, lay eggs and guard the fry together. Breeding colour and territorial behaviour can intensify during this period. If you are not trying to breed them, a well-structured community with enough space is usually easier than forcing pairs in a cramped aquarium.
Do not put Firemouths into nano tanks, uncycled tanks or tiny peaceful communities. Do not mix them with dwarf shrimp and assume the shrimp will be safe. Do not buy several young fish without a plan for adult territories. Most problems blamed on aggression are really space, stocking or layout problems that become obvious once the fish mature.
Another mistake is treating the species as either harmless or brutal. Firemouths sit in the middle. They are usually more manageable than many large Central American cichlids, but they are still territorial fish with body language, threat displays and breeding instincts. Respect that and they become much easier to keep.
Shopify readback shows this product is currently in stock across multiple size variants, with total inventory available at the time of this cleanup. Choose the size that suits your existing aquarium and tank mates, and plan around adult size rather than sale size.
Eligible livestock orders are packed with oxygen, insulation and weather-aware dispatch timing, then sent by UK live-fish courier. The Tropical Fish Co Live Arrival Guarantee applies when delivery and acclimation rules are followed. First-time buyers can use WELCOME10 where the active promotion terms apply.
This cleanup checked FishBase, GBIF, Practical Fishkeeping, TFH, USGS and site/source data before rewriting the listing. Google Search Central guidance for title links, snippets, product structured data and image alt text shaped the SERP fields. The final copy keeps useful care depth while removing repeated retail phrases and keyword-stuffed sentences.
24–28°C · pH 7–8 · 100L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 500L
23–25°C · pH 6–7.8 · 80L
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 500L
20–27°C · pH 6–7 · 54L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 150L
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.8 · 300L
24–28°C · pH 5.5–7 · 60L
18–25°C · pH 6–8 · 100L
24–28°C · pH 7–8 · 120L
18–28°C · pH 6.5–8 · 20L
24–27°C · pH 7.5–8.8 · 150L
22–26°C · pH 6–7.5 · 60L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 40L
28–30°C · pH 5.5–7.5 · 300L
