Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Firemouth Cichlid
Thorichthys meeki Brind, 1918
Also called Firemouth, Mojarra boca de fuego
From Central America: Atlantic slope of south-eastern Mexico (including the Yucatán Peninsula), Belize and northern Guatemala, in rivers, lagoons, cenotes and ponds.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Medium-sized, laterally compressed cichlid
A neat, oval cichlid with a brilliant red-orange throat and belly, dark flank bars with a central blotch, and sparkling blue-turquoise spots on the head and fins. Males carry longer, pointed fin tips.23
Personality what they are like
Fairly peaceful for a Central American cichlid. It prefers to bluff rather than fight, puffing out its red throat to warn rivals, and becomes protective while breeding.23
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Spends much time near the bottom sifting sand for food and does well with open swimming space and some cover.2
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Keep the water clean in a mature tank with good filtration and routine water changes.2
Home where they are happiest
At least 120 x 30 cm for a pair, bigger for a group; soft sand, smooth rocks, roots and caves. Water about 23 to 30 C, pH roughly 6.5 to 8.5, soft to moderately hard.213
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Omnivore: quality sinking foods plus frozen or live bloodworm, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae, with some plant-based food such as spirulina.21
Company who they like around
Forms monogamous pairs; outside breeding it can live in a group and alongside similar-sized, calm fish.23
The story where it all began
The firemouth was described by William Brind in 1918 and named after the American ichthyologist Seth Eugene Meek. It has been a popular aquarium fish for many decades thanks to its colour and manageable size.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Males flare their gill covers to flash the red throat as a warning to rivals.3
- 2
The genus name Thorichthys comes from Greek words meaning to leap and fish.2
- 3
In the wild it can live in cenotes, the natural limestone sinkholes of the Yucatán.2
- 4
A spawn can contain several hundred eggs, guarded by both parents.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 3 October 2018)1
- Taxonomy
- Described by Brind in 1918; formerly in Cichlasoma, Thorichthys raised to a full genus by Kullander in 19832
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Firemouth Cichlid. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Thorichthys meeki fishbase.seused for taxonomy, range, size, water, IUCN, breeding
- Seriously Fish: Thorichthys meeki seriouslyfish.comused for care, tank size, water, diet, behaviour, etymology
- Wikipedia: Firemouth cichlid en.wikipedia.orgused for name, size, behaviour, fun facts
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.