Moderate
Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid (Rubricatochromis lifalili)
23–26°C · pH 6–7.8 · 150L
£5.99
Bright West African jewel cichlid with strong red colour, blue-green spotting and territorial pair behaviour. Best for a mature, structured cichlid aquarium.
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.
Rubricatochromis bimaculatus
Red Jewel Cichlid bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
Bright West African jewel cichlid with strong red colour, blue-green spotting and territorial pair behaviour. Best for a mature, structured cichlid aquarium.
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.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Red Jewel Cichlid is the clean customer-facing name for this N061 jewel cichlid listing, with Rubricatochromis bimaculatus used as the accepted scientific name and Hemichromis bimaculatus kept visible as the older supplier and aquarium-trade name. The fish is a bright, confident West African cichlid with red body colour, blue-green reflective spotting and the bold behaviour that makes jewel cichlids memorable.
This is not a quiet community centrepiece for a small mixed aquarium. It is a territorial cichlid for keepers who enjoy behaviour, colour and active pair dynamics, and who can build the tank around space, cover, strong filtration and carefully chosen companions. The old listing already contained useful care depth; this rewrite keeps that depth while removing forced sales phrases and correcting the taxonomy.
| Customer name | Red Jewel Cichlid / Jewelfish |
|---|---|
| Accepted scientific name | Rubricatochromis bimaculatus |
| Supplier / older name | Hemichromis bimaculatus |
| Current variants | 4-5 cm, 5-7 cm and 7-10 cm size options |
| Adult planning size | Plan around 12-15 cm depending on line and conditions |
| Care level | Moderate to advanced because of territory and breeding aggression |
| Temperature | Stable low-to-mid 20s C; Petra row gives 23-27C |
| pH / hardness | FishBase records pH 6.5-7.5 and dH 4-16 |
| Minimum setup | 100 cm+ aquarium length; about 150 litres is a sensible pair-focused target |
| Temperament | Aggressive and territorial, especially as a pair or during spawning |
| Diet | Omnivore with strong carnivore leaning; varied cichlid foods, frozen foods and controlled portions |
Older aquarium records and supplier rows still use Hemichromis bimaculatus. FishBase currently presents the species as Rubricatochromis bimaculatus, so the page uses the accepted name for the title and search fields while preserving the older name for customers comparing labels, invoices or previous care notes. That is important because jewel cichlid trade names are used loosely, and not every red jewel-type fish in the hobby is labelled with perfect taxonomic precision.
The practical care message is stable even when names change: this is a red jewel cichlid with strong territorial instincts, striking colour and real breeding behaviour. It should be selected for a planned cichlid aquarium, not added casually to a peaceful community.
A settled Red Jewel Cichlid can be one of the brightest fish in a freshwater display. The body develops red to crimson colour, dark facial and flank markings, and reflective blue-green spots across the body and fins. Under subdued lighting with dark hardscape, the spotting can look almost metallic. Colour is usually strongest when the fish is settled, well fed, not bullied and able to hold a secure territory.
The appeal is not only colour. Jewel cichlids are interactive fish: they patrol, inspect caves, react quickly to food and often rearrange parts of the lower aquarium. A keeper who enjoys watching cichlid body language will get more from this fish than someone looking only for a static red display animal.
FishBase records Rubricatochromis bimaculatus as a freshwater and brackish benthopelagic cichlid, with species-boundary notes limiting the core record to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia while older reports mention wider West African localities. That uncertainty is another reason to keep the page careful rather than over-specific. For aquarium care, think in terms of warm West African water, cover, broken sight lines and stable quality rather than a bare tank.
Wild and wild-type jewel cichlids use vegetated margins, roots, stones, leaf litter, quieter edges and territorial spawning sites. They are adaptable, but adaptability is not an excuse for poor water quality. Clean water, oxygenation and a layout with retreats are what allow the fish to show its best colour and behaviour without turning the whole aquarium into a constant fight.
Use a mature aquarium with a strong footprint. FishBase gives an aquarium note for aggressive pairs in 100 cm minimum aquarium length, and the existing Tropical Fish Co care structure sensibly planned around about 150 litres for a pair-focused setup. Larger tanks are safer if you want tank mates, multiple cichlids or more than one territory.
Build with rocks, wood, caves, sturdy plants and visual barriers. The goal is not a bare display where every fish can see every other fish at all times. The goal is a structured cichlid aquarium with boundaries, shaded retreats and enough cover for fish to avoid one another. Fine gravel or sand works well, and any plants should be robust or attached to hardscape because jewel cichlids may dig around chosen areas.
Filtration should be generous. Jewel cichlids feed eagerly, produce waste and become stressed if ammonia, nitrite or nitrate rise. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero, maintain regular water changes and avoid sudden swings. A stable, mature tank is far more important than chasing a perfect number after the fish arrives.
Petra's source row for N061 gives 23-27C, pH 6.0-7.5, dGH 0-20 and a maximum size note of 15 cm. FishBase records pH 6.5-7.5, dH 4-16 and a cooler tropical reference range. For a practical home aquarium, keep the fish stable in the low-to-mid 20s C, avoid extremes and acclimate carefully to your own water.
Do not make large, sudden chemistry corrections. If your tap water is very soft, very hard or very alkaline, plan changes gradually and keep records. This fish is hardy when settled, but aggressive cichlids still suffer when unstable water, overcrowding and stress combine.
Feed a varied cichlid diet. A quality pellet or granule should be the base, supported with frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis, daphnia and occasional live foods where appropriate. Rich foods should be controlled rather than poured in heavily, because uneaten food quickly damages water quality.
Colour is supported by good nutrition, clean water and low stress. Carotenoid-rich prepared foods, krill-based foods and suitable frozen foods can help the red and reflective spotting show well, but no food can compensate for a cramped or unstable aquarium. Feed several small portions only when the fish is actively eating, and remove leftovers.
Red Jewel Cichlids are aggressive by community-fish standards. A single fish or compatible pair in a species-focused setup is often the cleanest option. If tank mates are used, they must be robust, similarly sized, fast enough to avoid pressure and housed in a larger aquarium with hardscape boundaries. Even then, behaviour must be watched closely.
Avoid dwarf shrimp, tiny tetras, guppies, long-finned slow fish, peaceful nano species and any fish that cannot handle a territorial cichlid. A jewel cichlid may seem manageable outside breeding condition and then become far more assertive when it pairs, claims a cave or prepares to spawn. Have a divider, spare tank or rehoming plan if you are keeping multiple cichlids.
Breeding behaviour is one of the reasons people keep jewel cichlids. A compatible pair may clean a stone, cave wall or hard surface, spawn, guard eggs and defend fry with impressive commitment. That parental care is fascinating, but it also brings the strongest aggression. Tank mates that were tolerated before spawning may suddenly be chased hard.
If you want to encourage breeding, use a dedicated tank or a very carefully structured species setup. Provide flat stones, caves, visual barriers and calm maintenance. Fry can be started on suitable small foods such as newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms once free swimming. If breeding is not the goal, still assume pair behaviour can appear and plan the aquarium accordingly.
A healthy Red Jewel Cichlid should be alert, responsive and balanced in the water. Watch for clamped fins, heavy breathing, faded colour, torn fins, constant hiding or repeated glass surfing. These signs often point to water quality, bullying, transport stress or an unsuitable layout before they point to a specific disease.
On arrival, keep lights modest and acclimate patiently. Give the fish time to map the aquarium before expecting full colour. Avoid heavy feeding on the first day and do not rearrange tank mates repeatedly while the fish is settling. Stable conditions and a clear territory help this species relax.
Choose Red Jewel Cichlid if you want a colourful, bold African cichlid and you are comfortable managing territory. It suits keepers who enjoy behaviour, pair dynamics, feeding response and structured aquariums. It is not the right choice for a gentle planted nano community or a shrimp-safe display.
The Live Arrival Guarantee applies to eligible livestock when the delivery, receiving and acclimation instructions are followed. Before ordering, check that the aquarium is cycled, covered, warm, filtered and arranged with real territories. If you are unsure about pairing or tank mates, ask before adding the fish.
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