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Red Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis lifalili
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Cichliformes›Cichlidae
📍 Congo River Basin, Africa
Brilliant blood-red cichlid covered in sparkly blue spots. Hardy but territorial, especially when breeding. Stunning centrepiece fish.
Care Guide
Diet
Red Jewel Cichlids are omnivorous and should be fed a varied diet of high-quality cichlid pellets, flake food, and regular supplements of frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Feed small amounts once daily, only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes. Occasional vegetable matter such as blanched spinach or spirulina-based foods supports digestive health.
Behavior
Red Jewels are active, intelligent fish that spend most of their time in mid-bottom water zones exploring and foraging. They are highly territorial and aggressive, especially during breeding season, and will chase or attack smaller fish and even similarly-sized tank mates. Males are particularly pugnacious and may harass females outside of spawning periods.
Breeding
Breeding Red Jewels in captivity is moderately difficult and requires ideal conditions including soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0-6.5), temperatures around 26-27°C, and plenty of hiding spots or caves. Pairs are monogamous and will aggressively defend eggs and fry; remove other fish to a separate breeding tank. Expect 200-500 fry per spawn, though many will not survive without careful management of water quality and live food availability.
Tank Mates
Bottom-dweller that avoids conflict; helps with algae control and occupies different zone
Nocturnal and hides; may be nipped at but generally tolerated if tank is large enough
Hard-shelled snails resist predation; provide algae control without competing for space
Only in very large tanks (50+ gallons); two males will fight; pairs may breed and become more aggressive
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, rubbing against objects, lethargy
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform 25% water changes daily, use aquarium salt (1 teaspoon per 5 gallons) or commercial ich treatment for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin loss
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, maintain stable temperature, use antibiotic medication if severe; remove sharp decorations that may cause injury
Hole-in-the-Head (Hexamita)
Small holes or pits in head and lateral line, loss of appetite, lethargy
Perform 50% water changes, improve diet with quality foods and vitamin supplements, use metronidazole-based treatment if available; ensure excellent water quality
Bacterial Infection
Red streaks on body, swollen belly, open sores, cloudy eyes
Isolate fish in hospital tank, maintain pristine water quality, use broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment; address underlying stress factors
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- diet
- omnivore
- maxSize
- 5 inches
- minTankSize
- 30 gallons
- temperature
- 72–82°F (22–28°C)
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C