This is what you hear people talk about most when it comes to this fish, and it’s for good reason. Jewel cichlid care is something that revolves mostly around your ability to manage their aggressive tendencies. There doesn’t seem to be a strong theory about why this gap in size is so large when it comes to Jewel cichlids compared to other fish. While it’s quite common for fish to be larger in the wild than they are when kept in an aquarium, this is a rather significant difference. However, in the wild they can get as long as one foot.

The average Jewel cichlid size is usually no more than 6 inches when in captivity. This bump is usually more pronounced when Jewel cichlid fish are younger. Their head shape slants upward from their mouth and then curves into the start of their back at a very subtle bump. Their anal fins are shallow and trim and end exactly as far back as their dorsal fin does. Their dorsal fin starts about a third of the way down their body and continues to right before their caudal fin. The body of Jewel cichlids is fairly narrow and pointed. They definitely aren’t as popular as the red bodied fish, but you’ll see them quite often. The same colors are on their fins as well, but they are a bit more striped.Īnother color variation you see a fair amount is a dark blue or turquoise body with the same bright blueish-green dots. These spots are typically a light bluish-green and cover their entire body. These fish have a bright red/orange body with colored spots all over. There are a number of colorful variations that they come in, but the red Jewel cichlid is definitely the most common. The beauty of Jewel cichlids is something that can’t be denied. We’ll get more into the specific care guidelines to follow, but it’s worth noting the impact this can have on their lifespan. Besides the obvious health issues that frequent fights can cause, this also puts them in a state of stress.Ĭonstant stress can significantly shorten the lifespan of your red Jewel cichlid, which obviously isn’t fair to them. You see, Jewel cichlids are far more prone to get into altercations and fights in their tank. However, what makes them a little bit different is the importance of managing their aggression. Their lifespan is influenced by the quality of care and habitat they’re provided with (just like any other fish). There have been instances when this fish has lived up to 7 in captivity but it’s extremely uncommon. The average Jewel cichlid lifespan is roughly 5 years. This is useful to know because this is the kind of environment you’ll be trying to replicate when setting up their tank. They spend most of their time in smaller bodies of freshwater like rivers, streams, and lakes (among others).

Another common name for them is the African Jewelfish. These fish originate from west Africa primarily but can be found a bit further east as well. The Jewel cichlid (scientific name: Hemichromis bimaculatus) is a popular fish in the cichlid family.

Red zebra cichlid tank fish food