Species Profile
Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis lifalili
Cichlidsaggressive
Adult size
4″
Minimum tank
30 gal
Temperature
75–82°F
pH
6.5–7.5
Schooling
Solitary OK
Water level
mid
Diet
Pellets, frozen, live
Notes
Brilliant red body covered in iridescent blue spots, but the temperament does not match the looks. Highly aggressive, especially when paired and breeding. Best in a species-only setup or with similarly tough West African tankmates.
Photo: Nicolas COUTHOUIS / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-2.5