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 (24)
Possible with care (74)
Avoid (23)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.