South & Central American cichlids

88 freshwater aquarium species in the south & central american cichlids group, including Argentine humphead, Blue acara and Blue-eye cichlid. 47 have a full care profile with tank size, temperature, pH and temperament, compared in the table below.

South & Central American cichlids care compared

Species	Adult size	Min. tank	Temperature	pH	Temperament	Care
Argentine humpheadGymnogeophagus balzanii	20 cm (7.9 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	22–26°C (72–79°F)	6.0–8.0	Semi-aggressive	–
Blue acaraAequidens pulcher	16 cm (6.3 in)	110 L (29 US gal)	20–25°C (68–77°F)	6.0–7.7	Semi-aggressive	Easy
Blue-eye cichlidCryptoheros spilurus	12 cm (4.7 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	22–32°C (72–90°F)	7.0–7.5	Peaceful	Easy
Chameleon cichlidAustraloheros facetus	18 cm (7.1 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	22–28°C (72–82°F)	6.5–7.0	Semi-aggressive	Difficult
Cockatoo cichlidApistogramma cacatuoides	7.5 cm (3 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	24–27°C (75–81°F)	5.0–7.0	Peaceful	Moderate
Demon eartheaterSatanoperca jurupari	25 cm (9.8 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	23–28°C (73–82°F)	6.3–7.0	Peaceful	Moderate
Emerald cichlidHypselecara temporalis	22 cm (8.7 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	25–29°C (77–84°F)	–	Semi-aggressive	Easy
False yellowjacket cichlidParachromis motaguensis	30 cm (12 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	25–30°C (77–86°F)	7.0–8.5	Aggressive	Moderate
Flag acaraLaetacara curviceps	8 cm (3.1 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	22–26°C (72–79°F)	5.2–7.5	Peaceful	Moderate
Freshwater angelfishPterophyllum scalare	–	–	24–30°C (75–86°F)	–	–	–
Goldeneye cichlidNannacara anomala	7.5 cm (3 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	24–27°C (75–81°F)	6.0–8.0	Peaceful	Easy
Green terrorAequidens rivulatus	23 cm (9.1 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	20–24°C (68–75°F)	6.5–7.5	Aggressive	Easy
Guayas cichlidCichlasoma festae	25 cm (9.8 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	25–29°C (77–84°F)	–	Semi-aggressive	Easy
Jack DempseyRocio octofasciata	5.6 cm (2.2 in)	–	25–28°C (77–82°F)	7.0–8.0	–	Easy
Jaguar guapoteParachromis managuensis	55 cm (22 in)	475 L (125 US gal)	23–30°C (73–86°F)	7.0–8.5	Aggressive	Moderate
Lowland cichlidHerichthys carpintis	17 cm (6.7 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	23–33°C (73–91°F)	7.0–8.0	Aggressive	Moderate
Orange chromideEtroplus maculatus	8 cm (3.1 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	20–30°C (68–86°F)	7.0–9.0	Peaceful	Moderate
OscarAstronotus ocellatus	45 cm (18 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	22–27°C (72–81°F)	6.0–8.0	Semi-aggressive	Easy
Pearl cichlidGeophagus brasiliensis	28 cm (11 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	20–23°C (68–73°F)	6.5–7.0	Semi-aggressive	Moderate
Rainbow kribPelvicachromis pulcher	10 cm (3.9 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	24–28°C (75–82°F)	5.0–8.0	Peaceful	Easy
Ram cichlidMikrogeophagus ramirezi	7.5 cm (3 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	27–30°C (81–86°F)	5.0–6.5	Peaceful	Moderate
Red devilAmphilophus labiatus	36 cm (14 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	21–27°C (70–81°F)	–	Peaceful	Easy
Red discusSymphysodon discus	18 cm (7.1 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	27–33°C (81–91°F)	4.2–6.5	Peaceful	Moderate
Redbreast acaraLaetacara dorsigera	7.5 cm (3 in)	115 L (30 US gal)	25–29°C (77–84°F)	6.0–7.5	Aggressive	Easy
Redhump eartheaterGeophagus steindachneri	20 cm (7.9 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	24–26°C (75–79°F)	6.5–7.0	Peaceful	Moderate
Redstriped eartheaterGeophagus surinamensis	30 cm (12 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	24–27°C (75–81°F)	6.0–8.0	Semi-aggressive	Moderate
Rio Grande cichlidHerichthys cyanoguttatus	30 cm (12 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	20–33°C (68–91°F)	–	Semi-aggressive	Easy
Smooth-cheek eartheaterGymnogeophagus gymnogenys	15 cm (5.9 in)	150 L (40 US gal)	20–25°C (68–77°F)	7.0–8.0	Aggressive	Moderate
Threespot eartheaterSatanoperca daemon	17 cm (6.7 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	23–28°C (73–82°F)	6.3–7.0	Peaceful	Moderate
UaruUaru amphiacanthoides	30 cm (12 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	26–30°C (79–86°F)	5.0–7.0	Aggressive	Easy
Umbrella cichlidApistogramma borellii	7 cm (2.8 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	25–27°C (77–81°F)	5.0–7.0	Semi-aggressive	Moderate
Yellow cichlidThorichthys helleri	14 cm (5.5 in)	150 L (40 US gal)	20–27°C (68–81°F)	7.3–8.5	Peaceful	Easy
Apistogramma macmasteri	7.5 cm (3 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	23–30°C (73–86°F)	6.0–6.5	Peaceful	Easy
Apistogramma nijsseni	8 cm (3.1 in)	55 L (15 US gal)	23–30°C (73–86°F)	5.0–7.0	Peaceful	Difficult
Apistogramma steindachneri	6.5 cm (2.6 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	25–30°C (77–86°F)	5.0–7.0	Peaceful	Easy
Crenicichla lacustris	30 cm (12 in)	150 L (40 US gal)	23–27°C (73–81°F)	6.5–7.5	Aggressive	Moderate
Crenicichla lenticulata	30 cm (12 in)	455 L (120 US gal)	23–27°C (73–81°F)	6.5–7.8	Aggressive	Moderate
Crenicichla strigata	30 cm (12 in)	455 L (120 US gal)	23–27°C (73–81°F)	6.5–7.8	Aggressive	Moderate
Cryptoheros panamensis	13 cm (5.1 in)	150 L (40 US gal)	26–30°C (79–86°F)	7.0–8.0	Aggressive	Easy
Cryptoheros sajica	10 cm (3.9 in)	150 L (40 US gal)	23–30°C (73–86°F)	7.0–7.5	–	Easy
Cryptoheros septemfasciatus	10 cm (3.9 in)	150 L (40 US gal)	21–27°C (70–81°F)	7.0–7.5	–	Easy
Geophagus abalios	25 cm (9.8 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	24–29°C (75–84°F)	6.5–7.5	Peaceful	Moderate
Heros efasciatus	20 cm (7.9 in)	285 L (75 US gal)	24–29°C (75–84°F)	5.0–6.5	Peaceful	Moderate
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus	5.6 cm (2.2 in)	110 L (29 US gal)	22–26°C (72–79°F)	7.0	Semi-aggressive	Difficult
Nanochromis parilus	7.5 cm (3 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	24–27°C (75–81°F)	6.0–7.0	Semi-aggressive	Easy
Nimbochromis venustus	25 cm (9.8 in)	–	25–30°C (77–86°F)	–	–	Easy
Satanoperca leucosticta	15 cm (5.9 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	23–28°C (73–82°F)	6.2–7.5	Peaceful	Moderate

Popular comparisons

All 134 comparisons