Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis bimaculatus
Cichlidae
About
The jewel cichlid is a strikingly beautiful West African substrate spawner whose deep-red body is dusted with rows of shimmering turquoise and blue spangles that blaze crimson when it breeds. Behind the beauty is a bold, powerful and famously aggressive fish that claims and fiercely defends a territory, digs the substrate, and will not tolerate tankmates once a pair forms and spawns. It is best kept as a single mated pair in a spacious tank with robust hardscape and only large, sturdy companions if any.
Care
House a bonded pair in 150 L or more with sand, rockwork and potted or very hardy plants, since it digs freely. Neutral, soft-to-medium water at 22-28 C. Highly aggressive and territorial, especially when breeding; choose tankmates with great care or keep it alone.
Diet
Carnivore-leaning omnivore; feed cichlid pellets, frozen and live meaty foods with some vegetable matter. Predatory toward small fish, which it will hunt and eat.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (179)
Avoid (92)
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.
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Jewel Cichlid need?
- A Jewel Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 150 litres (39.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Jewel Cichlid need?
- Jewel Cichlid does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 4–18 °dGH.
- Is the Jewel Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Jewel 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.