Salvini Cichlid
Trichromis salvini
Cichlidae
About
The Salvini cichlid is a strikingly coloured Central American cichlid from the Atlantic-slope rivers of southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, where males flush golden-yellow with rows of black blotches and iridescent blue speckling. Beautiful but pugnacious, it is highly territorial and predatory, readily eating any tankmate small enough to swallow. It typically forms a bonded pair and needs a spacious, rocky, well-filtered aquarium to thrive.
Care
Keep as a single fish or a bonded pair in a 200 L or larger tank with sand, rockwork and strong filtration. Very aggressive when breeding; only house with equally robust cichlids in large aquaria.
Diet
Predatory omnivore; feed a cichlid pellet staple plus frozen krill, mysis and shrimp. It will hunt smaller fish, so choose tankmates it cannot swallow.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (142)
Avoid (129)
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 Salvini Cichlid need?
- A Salvini Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres (52.8 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 Salvini Cichlid need?
- Salvini Cichlid does best at 22–30 °C (71.6–86 °F), pH 6.5–8.2 and a general hardness of 6–20 °dGH.
- Is the Salvini Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Salvini Cichlid is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.