Chocolate Cichlid
Hypselecara temporalis
Cichlidae
About
The chocolate cichlid is a large, deep-bodied South American cichlid from the slow, silt-laden waters of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, prized for its warm reddish-brown flanks and golden sheen. Unusually placid for its size, it is a gentle giant that pairs off to breed and is best kept with other calm, similarly sized tankmates.
Care
Give a single adult or a bonded pair a spacious tall tank of 300L+ with soft to neutral, warm water, a sand base and robust hardscape. Peaceful for a big cichlid but becomes territorial when spawning.
Diet
Omnivore feeding on invertebrates, algae and plant matter in the wild; offer quality pellets, frozen or live meaty foods and some greens, and avoid excess protein to prevent bloat.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (28)
Possible with care (144)
Avoid (99)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Chocolate Cichlid need?
- A Chocolate Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 300 litres (79.3 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Chocolate Cichlid need?
- Chocolate Cichlid does best at 25–30 °C (77–86 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 1–15 °dGH.
- Is the Chocolate Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Chocolate Cichlid sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.