What tank size does a Keyhole Cichlid need?

A Keyhole Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 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 Keyhole Cichlid need?

Keyhole Cichlid does best at 21–28 °C (69.8–82.4 °F), pH 4–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.

Is the Keyhole Cichlid suitable for beginners?

Keyhole 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.

Species library

Keyhole Cichlid

Cleithracara maronii

Cichlidae

FishDifficulty: ●●●○○Data: well-established

📷 Bartosz Senderek · CC BY-SA 2.5 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Keyhole Cichlid — Cleithracara maronii — 📷 Bartosz Senderek · CC BY-SA 2.5 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The keyhole cichlid is a genuinely peaceful, timid South American cichlid from the coastal creeks of the Orinoco delta and the Guianas, named for the keyhole-shaped dark blotch on its flank. Its calm, retiring nature makes it one of the very few cichlids that is safe in a peaceful community, where it forms a lasting monogamous pair and rarely disturbs plants or digs the substrate.

Care

Keep a bonded pair in a soft, slightly acidic, warm tank of at least 110 L with sand, driftwood and dense cover. Provide gentle dither fish to coax out this shy species; only mildly territorial while spawning.

Diet

Omnivorous forager taking small invertebrates and organic matter in the wild. Offer sinking pellets, flakes and regular frozen or live foods, making sure the timid pair gets its share.

Tankmate compatibility

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.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Keyhole Cichlid need?: A Keyhole Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 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 Keyhole Cichlid need?: Keyhole Cichlid does best at 21–28 °C (69.8–82.4 °F), pH 4–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
Is the Keyhole Cichlid suitable for beginners?: Keyhole 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.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature21–28°C

Optimal temp.23–26°C

pH4–7.5

Hardness (GH)2–15°d

Carbonate (KH)0–8°d

Adult size11 cm

Min. volume≥ 110 L

Min. tank length≥ 90 cm

Swimming zoneMid

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

Lifespan~8 yrs

Try in the calculator