No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
Guttatus Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis guttatus
📍 West Africa
The Guttatus Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis guttatus) is a strikingly colorful West African cichlid known for its vivid red body adorned with iridescent blue-green spots. It is a hardy and adaptable species popular among cichlid enthusiasts for its jewel-like appearance. However, its aggressive nature, especially during breeding, requires careful tank planning and compatible tankmates.
Community Photos
0 photosPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
No photos yet — add a tank with Guttatus Jewel Cichlid to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
Care Guide
Diet
Hemichromis guttatus is a carnivore that thrives on a varied diet of live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, earthworms, and small feeder insects. High-quality cichlid pellets or flakes can serve as a staple, supplemented with protein-rich treats several times a week. Feed adults once or twice daily, offering only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes to maintain water quality.
Behavior
The Guttatus Jewel Cichlid is an active and bold fish that patrols its territory aggressively, especially during spawning periods. It tends to be highly territorial toward conspecifics and similarly sized fish, and will rearrange substrate and uproot plants. Pairs form strong bonds and exhibit remarkable parental care, guarding eggs and fry with intense dedication.
Breeding
Breeding Hemichromis guttatus is relatively straightforward in captivity; pairs will spawn on flat rocks or in shallow depressions in the substrate. The female lays 200-500 eggs, which both parents guard and fan until hatching in 2-3 days. Fry are mobile within a week and should be fed infusoria or baby brine shrimp; remove other tankmates to prevent aggression.
Tank Mates
Conspecific aggression is high; only keep as a bonded pair with ample space
Similar size and temperament; may coexist in large tanks with territory breaks
Comparable aggression level; works in large tanks but monitor closely
Armored catfish that can hold its own against cichlid aggression
Large, armored pleco that is generally ignored by jewel cichlids
Bottom-dwelling algae eater that stays out of the cichlid's territory
Common Diseases
Ich (White Spot Disease)
White salt-like spots on body and fins, flashing against surfaces, lethargy
Raise temperature to 30°C (86°F) gradually, treat with ich medication containing malachite green or formalin, perform frequent water changes
Hole-in-the-Head Disease (HITH)
Pitting or erosion on the head and lateral line, loss of appetite, mucus trails from lesions
Improve water quality, reduce nitrates, supplement with vitamins and minerals, treat with metronidazole if severe
Bacterial Infection (Fin Rot)
Fraying or disintegrating fins, reddened fin edges, ulcers on body
Improve water quality, treat with antibacterial medication such as kanamycin or erythromycin, isolate affected fish
Bloat (Malawi Bloat / Dropsy)
Swollen abdomen, raised scales (pinecone appearance), lethargy, loss of appetite
Isolate fish, treat with metronidazole and Epsom salt baths, improve diet and water conditions; prognosis is guarded if scales are raised
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!
Quick Facts
- diet
- Carnivore – prefers live/frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and earthworms; accepts quality pellets
- lifespan
- 5-8 years
- max size
- 13 cm (5 in)
- tank size
- 40 gallons minimum
- temperament
- aggressive
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5-7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 5-15 dGH
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)