No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
Smiling Cichlid
Laetacara curviceps
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Cichlidae
📍 Amazon Basin, South America
Small, peaceful cichlid with iridescent blue-green scaling and an expression resembling a smile. One of the best cichlids for planted community tanks — rarely aggressive and plant-safe.
Care Guide
Diet
Smiling Cichlids are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high-quality cichlid pellets, flake foods, and regular offerings of frozen foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia. Supplement with vegetable matter such as blanched spinach or spirulina-based foods 2-3 times weekly. Feed small amounts once daily, only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes.
Behavior
These peaceful cichlids are bottom-dwellers that spend much of their time foraging along the substrate and exploring vegetation. They are social and do best in pairs or small groups, displaying minimal aggression compared to other cichlids. They exhibit curious, gentle behavior and are excellent for planted community tanks due to their plant-safe nature.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is moderately difficult but achievable with proper conditioning and tank setup. Pairs require a dedicated breeding tank with caves or dense vegetation, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0-6.5), and temperatures around 26-27°C. They are substrate spawners that exhibit parental care; fry can be fed infusoria and micro foods initially.
Tank Mates
Peaceful bottom-dweller with similar water requirements; won't compete for food or space
Small, peaceful schooling fish that occupy mid-water zones and share soft, acidic water preferences
Peaceful community fish that thrive in similar warm, slightly acidic conditions
Generally safe but small shrimp may occasionally be predated upon; provide dense vegetation for refuge
Hardy plant that won't be uprooted; provides shelter and natural aesthetic for the cichlid
Common Diseases
Ich (White Spot Disease)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, rubbing against objects, lethargy
Raise temperature gradually to 28-29°C, perform 25% water changes daily, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or commercial ich treatment for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, maintain optimal temperature, use antibacterial medication if severe; ensure good filtration
Bloat (Malawi Bloat)
Swollen abdomen, loss of appetite, difficulty swimming, pale coloration
Perform large water changes, feed high-quality varied diet, avoid overfeeding; use medicated food if condition persists; ensure stable water parameters
Velvet Disease
Fine golden or rust-colored dust on body, rapid breathing, scratching behavior, clamped fins
Raise temperature to 28-29°C, reduce light exposure, perform daily 25% water changes, use copper-free velvet treatment for 7-14 days
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 Smiling Cichlid to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
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
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- diet
- omnivore
- maxSize
- 3 inches
- minTankSize
- 20 gallons
- temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)
Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C