All fish / Cichlidae

Yellowjacket Cichlid

Parachromis friedrichsthalii

Also known as yellow jacket cichlid, friedrichsthal's cichlid, freidrichsthali, friedrichsthali, yellowjacket, 黄夹克

This is a predatory Central American cichlid with a yellowish body marked by black spots and a dark stripe along the flank. Males get bright yellow and green, and females show strong black blotches. Keepers like it because it is colourful, bold and has plenty of character.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a bonded pair

Diet

Carnivore: cichlid pellets, prawns, mussel, earthworms and frozen foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Atlantic slope of Central America, southern Mexico to Costa Rica

Breeding

Pairs spawn on flat stones or wood and both parents guard the eggs and fry fiercely. Breeding is fairly easy if you have a compatible pair and a big enough tank.

Good to know

It is territorial and will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth, so only keep it with robust tankmates of a similar size. It is often mixed up with, or crossed with, other Parachromis species.