All fish / Cichlidae

Wolf Cichlid

Parachromis dovii

Also known as dovii, dovii cichlid, wolf cichlid, guapote, guapote blanco, rainbow bass, dow's cichlid, dovi cichlid, ปลาหมอโดวี่, ウルフシクリッド, ikan wolf cichlid, 狼慈鲷

One of the largest Central American cichlids. It has a powerful build and big jaws, and adults are yellowish with dark blotches. Males often show blue-green flecks on the face and fins. Keepers of big predatory fish prize it for its size, its intelligence and the way it recognises the people who feed it.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

50 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Single specimen or a bonded pair only

Diet

Carnivore: large pellets, whole fish, prawns, mussels and earthworms

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Central America: Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica

Breeding

It spawns on flat rocks, and both parents guard the eggs and fry fiercely. Breeding is not hard once a compatible pair forms, but the male can kill the female, so pairs need a very large tank and a divider.

Good to know

This is among the most aggressive cichlids. Adults can pass 60 cm and will kill most tankmates, so plan for a huge tank before buying a juvenile. It is a food fish in its native range, so do not release it into the wild.