Into the CanopyAnimal care sheets

Home / Aquarium / Cichlids

28 species · 20 commonly kept

Central & South American cichlids

Every species in this group on the site (Central & South American cichlids). Commonly kept species are listed first; use the chips to show only commonly kept fish, or jump to a genus.

Group care guide

Central and South American cichlids

  • Size ranges widely, from convicts at 5 in to Parachromis over 20 in; plan tank size for the adult fish.
  • Most tolerate neutral, moderately hard water; strong filtration and rock or wood caves.
  • Omnivorous cichlid pellets plus vegetables for herbivores (Vieja, Uaru) and meaty foods for predators (Parachromis).
Water75–82°F

Sources 117119164

Blackbelt cichlid
No federal permit

Blackbelt cichlid

Vieja maculicauda

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Blue acara
No federal permit

Blue acara

Andinoacara pulcher

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Convict cichlid
No federal permit

Convict cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Emerald cichlid
No federal permit

Emerald cichlid

Hypselecara temporalis

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Firemouth cichlid
No federal permit

Firemouth cichlid

Thorichthys meeki

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Flag cichlid
No federal permit

Flag cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Gold Severum Cichlid
No federal permit

Gold Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Green terror
No federal permit

Green terror

Andinoacara rivulatus

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Jack Dempsey
No federal permit

Jack Dempsey

Rocio octofasciata

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Jaguar guapote
No federal permit

Jaguar guapote

Parachromis managuensis

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Keyhole cichlid
No federal permit

Keyhole cichlid

Cleithracara maronii

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Mesonauta insignis
No federal permit

Mesonauta insignis

Mesonauta insignis

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Midas cichlid
No federal permit

Midas cichlid

Amphilophus citrinellus

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Moga
No federal permit

Moga

Hypsophrys nicaraguensis

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Rainbow cichlid
No federal permit

Rainbow cichlid

Herotilapia multispinosa

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Red devil
No federal permit

Red devil

Amphilophus labiatus

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Saddle cichlid
No federal permit

Saddle cichlid

Aequidens tetramerus

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Texas cichlid
No federal permit

Texas cichlid

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Twoband cichlid
No federal permit

Twoband cichlid

Vieja bifasciata

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Uaru
No federal permit

Uaru

Uaru amphiacanthoides

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Blackstripe Cichlid
No federal permit

Blackstripe Cichlid

Vieja fenestrata

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Cichlasoma boliviense
No federal permit

Cichlasoma boliviense

Cichlasoma boliviense

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
False yellowjacket cichlid
No federal permit

False yellowjacket cichlid

Parachromis motaguensis

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Lowland cichlid
No federal permit

Lowland cichlid

Herichthys carpintis

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Oaxaca cichlid
No federal permit

Oaxaca cichlid

Vieja zonata

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Rio Negro Chocolate Cichlid
No federal permit

Rio Negro Chocolate Cichlid

Hypselecara coryphaenoides

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
Spotted Severum
No federal permit

Spotted Severum

Heros notatus

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate
No federal permit

Redspot Cichlid

Darienheros calobrensis

Aquarium hobby

Intermediate