All fish / Cichlidae

Midas Cichlid

Amphilophus citrinellus

Also known as midas cichlid, red devil, lemon cichlid, citron cichlid, golden cichlid, midas, red midas, amphilophus citrinella, ปลาหมอเรดเดวิล, ikan red devil, ミダスシクリッド, oskar merah

This is a heavy-bodied Central American cichlid. Adults often turn solid orange, yellow or white, and males grow a big nuchal hump on the forehead. People keep it because it is bold and full of character, and it gets to know its owner. It is also one of the parent species behind flowerhorn hybrids.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

23 to 30 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Keep singly or as a bonded pair

Diet

Omnivore: quality cichlid pellets, prawns, earthworms, insects, some vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Costa Rica and Nicaragua: San Juan River basin, Lakes Nicaragua and Managua

Breeding

It lays eggs on cleaned rocks in open water, and both parents guard the eggs and fry very closely. A compatible pair spawns readily, but males can badly hurt or kill females that are not ready to breed, so a divider is often used.

Good to know

It is very territorial and aggressive, rearranges the tank décor and outgrows small tanks, so tankmates have to be large and robust. It is often confused with Amphilophus labiatus, which is sold under the same name 'red devil', and with flowerhorn hybrids.