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No federal permit to keepLowland cichlid
Herichthys carpintis
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Herichthys carpintis, the lowland cichlid, pearlscale cichlid, is a species of cichlid.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 36 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 6.7 in / 17 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–91°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 7–8.
- Hardness: 9–20 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 15 in (roughly 54 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: 75–79 °F, 8–14 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “As long as territories (rock, wood) and open space is provided in the aquarium, Carpintis aren't too fussed.”
- Tankmates: “Like a lot of the central/north American large cichlids, this fish can be very territorial - especially when breeding, and sometimes downright aggressive.”
- Breeding: “Carpintis is a substrate spawner.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Central and South American cichlids
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rivers and lakes of the Americas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- 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.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–82°F |
Diet
- Omnivorous cichlid pellets plus vegetables for herbivores (Vieja, Uaru) and meaty foods for predators (Parachromis).
Social life
- Territorial; breeding pairs can clear a whole tank.
Health watch
- Aggression and territorial injuries, especially when breeding; hole-in-the-head in poor water.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is found in North America with both native and invasive populations. It is considered a Neotropical cichlid.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Herichthys carpintis” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Occurs in both fast flowing rivers and still waters (Stawikowski & Werner, 1998). |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–91 °F (23–33 °C), pH 7–8, hardness 9–20 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: clutch tenders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–91 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 93°F (up to 97°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 50°F (down to 44°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 67–76°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 65–75% on average (driest month about 64%) |
| Rainfall | about 961 mm a year |
Measured at 48 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Herichthys carpintis, the lowland cichlid, pearlscale cichlid, is a species of cichlid. It is found in North America with both native and invasive populations. It is considered a Neotropical cichlid. The species H. carpintis was first described by Jordan & Snyder in 1899, though at the time of publication the species was described as Neetroplus carpintis. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | The lowland cichlid is an omnivore, and may eat detritus, arthropods, fishes, vascular plants, and snails. Some describe it as a detritivore, though populations from different regions have been shown to have diverse diets through their gut contents. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Both parents tend the clutch; female takes care for the eggs, male defends the territory. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | The lowland cichlid's defining feature is its large, iridescent, pearl-like spots that cover its body. It has an olive-green base color while its spots are Persian-green. When breeding, their colors change to white on their anterior body and black bars or solid black on the posterior body. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Occurs in both fast flowing rivers and still waters (Stawikowski & Werner, 1998). — FishBase |
| History and naming | Herichthys is a widely recognized genus monophyletic clade, and it is the only cichlid clade north of the Mexican Plateau. The diversification of the genus Herichthys is estimated to have begun approximately 6 million years ago. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Conservation | H. carpintis is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, the lowland cichlid faces environmental stressors in the Zimapan dam, a highly-invaded and contaminated location which they are native to. It is one of the most polluted river basins in Mexico, and specifically a reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and arsenic resistance. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 15 in (about 54 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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