There are many people who are interested in knowing different aspects of the king fish Midas. It is a fish that is known as a false demon and whose name is Amphilophus citrinellusIt's a rather striking fish with a very peculiar shape. This is why many people want to add this exotic specimen to their home aquariums. It needs a lot of care so that it can thrive well, which is why it is considered a fish for advanced people with more experience in caring for it. de peces.
If you want to know more about its characteristics and care What does the Midas kingfish need? This is your post.
Key features
Its body is not too long, but it is not wide either. Although its appearance can be deceiving, They appear more robust due to their prominent foreheadWith such a large forehead and a not so elongated body, he looks like a big fish.
The jaw is rounded and the dorsal and anal fins are elongated, ending in a point, which gives them stability and speed when swimming. Sexual dimorphism exists, so we can differentiate between males and females relatively easily. We must note that Males have a cephalic hump called a giba This becomes more pronounced in adulthood and during reproduction. Their body color varies in different shades, from white, black, yellow, and even orange, the latter being the most common and the most attractive to hobbyists.
Another difference between males and females is size. The male, having a larger front, can measure up to 30 centimeters, while the females are smaller. (around 20 cm). If you see a large specimen with a pronounced hump, it is most likely a male. There are other fish that are harder to distinguish between male and female, such as the Angel fish, whose differentiation can only be made at the time of reproduction.
Although they usually live in the rockiest areas of rivers, it is not unusual to see them in places with aquatic plants. In nature, they use crevices, caves and rock surfaces to feed and reproduce.
Classification and names
- Scientific name: Amphilophus citrinellus
- Order: Cichliformes
- Family: Cichlidae
- Gender: Amphilophus
- Common names: Midas kingfish, false red devil, striped mojarra
Distribution and habitat
It is originally from Central America, with natural populations in the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua and Costa RicaIncluding San Juan River and several lakes of volcanic origin: Nicaragua, Managua, Masaya and Apoyo, among others. Its typical biotope is rocky areas with hard substrates, where it finds suitable surfaces for spawning and shelter from predators.
Shape and coloration
The body is slightly laterally compressed, tall and massive, with a prominent head and full lips (although less developed than in A. labiatus). The dorsal and anal fins usually reach the base of the caudal fin. There are multiple natural and hybridized colorations: white to almost black, to yellow and orange. In areas where it coexists with Amphilophus labiatus have been documented natural hybridizations, something that should be avoided in an aquarium to maintain the purity of the species.
Life expectancy and behavior
With good care, they can reach to 15 years. His behavior is territorial and markedly aggressive, especially during breeding season or in small spaces. Its strength and size determine its coexistence: it is only recommended with fish of similar size and temperament.
Care needed for kingfish in captivity
These fish require very special care if we want to keep them healthy and in our aquarium for as long as possible. First of all, is to have a fairly large aquarium (greater than 300 liters) where I can swim freely. Since a large space is needed in the house to house such an aquarium, few people have this fish in their homes.
If you cannot have an aquarium of these dimensions, it is better to adapt to the species de peces to your fish tank and guarantee them a good life. Remember that you are not playing, but dealing with living beings.
Once you have the tank of at least 300 liters, we will need a rock decoration. We need to try to make sure the aquarium resembles its natural habitat as closely as possible. As it tends to live in rocky areas of rivers, we should place aquarium plants and rocks to make it look like it. Just making sure their captive habitat is as close to natural as possible We will be guaranteeing that you will not have stress or depression due to the change of place.
To have females in this aquarium, we will need one cave so that she can take care of her young and feel protected. The aquarium temperature should be between 24 and 28 degrees., never above or below.
It's not difficult to maintain this type of fish's diet. You can feed them smaller fish, plant foods, or store food de peces. From time to time it is advisable to give it live food so that it does not lose its natural predatory capabilities.
Recommended parameters and equipment
- Temperature: 25-28 ºC (wide tolerance if stable; avoid sudden changes).
- pH: 7.0-8.0; GH: 10-15 (moderately hard to hard water).
- Powerful filtration: flow rate 6-8 times the volume of the aquarium/hour and good oxygenation.
- Water changes: 30-40% weekly to keep nitrates low.
- Substratum: sand or fine gravel, with large rocks well placed to prevent landslides.
Dimensions and coexistence in the tank
For a solitary adult specimen, an aquarium of 300-400 liters is the starting point. If you are in a couple, it is highly advisable to have 600 liters or more, with areas clearly delimited by rocks and logs. They are capable of move decorations easily, so it's a good idea to secure stones and avoid unstable structures. Natural plants often end up uprooted or nibbled; if you want them, opt for very hardy, well-anchored species, or quality artificial plants.
Varied and balanced diet
It is a opportunistic omnivore. Accepts dry (cichlid-specific pellets), frozen, and live food. Alternates quality protein (krill, shrimp, mussel, mosquito larvae) with plant contributions (spirulina, blanched peas) to avoid digestive problems. Avoid live fish as food due to the risk of parasites and nutritional imbalances. Eat 1-2 times a day in portions that are consumed in a few minutes; occasional fasting helps your metabolism.
Well-being and management
- Demand refuge areas with caves and slate plates also placed vertically; they are useful for spawning.
- Usa covers or lids: It is a vigorous fish with impetus when feeding.
- Evita mixing species of the same genus or similar varieties to reduce the risk of hybridization.
- The best way to form a couple is to start with a youth group and allow them to pair naturally, separating the rest when necessary.
Reproduction
The kingfish reaches sexual maturity in just 9 months. During the mating ritual, the male becomes completely aggressive towards the female to demonstrate their reproductive capacity. If this happens, the male may harm her. If you have a male and female in captivity, it's best to be vigilant during mating season.
In the mating ritual, the female displays the ovipositor tube and the male is added to it. For each egg laying they are capable of laying up to 200 eggs. The females separate from the male once they have laid their eggs and begin to care for them. This species takes special care of its eggs, unlike other species such as the needle fish that leaves them without any care.
In practice, the ideal is keep parents separated with a divider transparent within the same breeding aquarium. When the female presents the ovipositor and cleans the surface (she usually prefers a vertical stone, log or slate), joins the male for fertilization. After laying, many keepers return to separate the male to avoid aggression and allow the female to attend to the ventilation of the eggs.
The eggs hatch at The second day after laying, so you don't have to wait too long to see the young. To protect the larvae, it's best to place them in another container, such as a farrowing pen for fish. The fry will begin to swim freely. in a few days and you can give them newly hatched brine shrimp. They will also be able to eat the food given to the parents, but it will have to be broken into very small pieces, like powder. Keep a impeccable water quality and small but frequent changes to optimize survival.
If we want to avoid the problems mentioned above with the aggressiveness of the male, it is advisable separate them into two different aquariumsThis way, the male will be able to see the female but not have contact with her. This makes it even more difficult for the owner to keep kingfish in the home. If it's already complicated to have a 300-liter aquarium, imagine having several for when they're breeding.
Compatibility with other species
Due to the aggressiveness For this fish, you must know well the companions that it will have in the fish tank. There are fish with which it can live without any restrictions, such as the common pleco fish and the galaxy pleco fish. However, there are other species that they can't live with if you bring them in as adults, but they are perfectly fine if they've been raised together since they were young. It doesn't work in all cases, but there's a greater margin of confidence. We find species such as Oscar fish and the green terror fish.
General rules of coexistence
- Better with fish similar size and robust character.
- Avoid companions who fit in your mouth or slow swimming and long fins.
- The size of the aquarium is key: the larger the volume and defined territories, less conflict.
Compatibilities observed according to management
- Compatible without major restrictions (if the aquarium is large): robust loricarids such as the common pleco and the galaxy pleco; also others battleships that do not fit in your mouth.
- If they are raised together from a young age (doesn't always work): Astronotus ocelllatus. (Oscar), Andinoacara rivulatus (green terror), Rocio octofasciata (Jack Dempsey), and mates of his own kind.
- With reservation: catfish and loricariids protected by armor such as Agamyxus pectinifrons, Synodontis nigriventris; Corydoras with caution (risk if they fit in the mouth). ancistrus can live if it does not fit in your mouth and there are enough shelters.
- By similar sizes: some medium-sized catfish such as Ameiurus melas, always in very spacious aquariums.
- Clash over territory if space is insufficient: Herichthys cyanoguttatus (Texas), Flowerhorn, Crenicichla strigata; only in large volumes and with control.
- Considerable size difference: small bottom species such as Hypancistrus L199 or snails Neritin could coexist if there is no risk of predation; monitor the personality of the individual.
If you plan to set up a community aquarium, remember that its character dictates how it lives together. In many cases, the safest approach is to maintain a unique copy or a compatible couple in a dedicated aquarium, especially during breeding. Avoid mixing with species of the same genus to avoid hybridization.
I hope that with this information you can take good care of of the Midas kingfish and doesn't cause too many problems due to its aggressiveness and difficulty in care. If you have any questions, just ask in the comments :).
This cichlid is as beautiful as it is demanding: with a large aquarium, stable parameters, a varied diet and careful planning of coexistence, it becomes an exciting and responsible project for experienced aquarists.
