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No federal permit to keep

Texas cichlid

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Also known as Rio Grande cichlid, Rio Grande perch, Texas

Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)

The Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus), also known as the Rio Grande cichlid, is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family and the only cichlid species native to the United States.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Intermediate

FamilyCichlids

Record lifespan5 years

Adult lengthup to 11.8 in

WaterFreshwater

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 4.4 in / 11.25 cm; the largest recorded was 11.8 in).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 68–91°F (range recorded for this species).
pH: 6.5–7.5.
Hardness: 5–12 dGH.
Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, pH 6–7.5, 5–12 dGH.
Behaviour: temperament territorial.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “There's little point in attempting to maintain this species in a carefully aquascaped display tank as it tends to dig a lot, and will quickly excavate the substrate to suit itself.”
Diet: “In nature it feeds primarily on aquatic invertebrates, although stomach analyses of wild specimens have shown that it also ingests a fair amount of plant matter and other detritus.”
Tankmates: “Like most larger cichlids it's highly belligerent and territorial, especially when kept in smaller (less than 6' in length) tanks.”
Breeding: “Easily bred provided you can obtain a compatible pair.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Central and South American cichlids

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rivers and lakes of the Americas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Size ranges widely, from convicts at 5 in to Parachromis over 20 in; plan tank size for the adult fish.
Most tolerate neutral, moderately hard water; strong filtration and rock or wood caves.

Sources 117 119 164

Climate & lighting

Water

75–82°F

Sources 117 119 164

Diet

Omnivorous cichlid pellets plus vegetables for herbivores (Vieja, Uaru) and meaty foods for predators (Parachromis).

Sources 117 119 164

Social life

Territorial; breeding pairs can clear a whole tank.

Sources 117 119 164

Health watch

Aggression and territorial injuries, especially when breeding; hole-in-the-head in poor water.

Sources 117 119 164

Understanding the animal

About this animal

It is found in the lower Rio Grande drainage in Texas near Brownsville and northeastern Mexico, but some populations have been established in river drainages of Central Texas' Edwards Plateau, including the San Marcos, Guadalupe, San Antonio, and Colorado Rivers.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Texas cichlid” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams, lakes. Uses both the bottom and open water. Inhabits pools and runs of small to large rivers; prefers warm water and vegetation. Feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 68–91 °F (20–33 °C), pH 6.5–7.5, hardness 5–12 dH.
Climate	Subtropical climate.
Behavior to plan for	Breeding: clutch tenders.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 68–91 °F.

FishBase species summary: Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 94°F (up to 98°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 42°F (down to 33°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	65–75°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	58–71% on average (driest month about 59%)
Rainfall	about 688 mm a year

Measured at 311 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus), also known as the Rio Grande cichlid, is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family and the only cichlid species native to the United States. It is found in the lower Rio Grande drainage in Texas near Brownsville and northeastern Mexico, but some populations have been established in river drainages of Central Texas' Edwards Plateau, including the San Marcos, Guadalupe, San Antonio, and Colorado Rivers. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase
Wild diet	The cichlid's omnivorous diet consists of vegetable matter or detritus, often feeding on plants, insects, and smaller fish, as well as fish eggs. The cichlid, in certain situations, can also be described as an "opportunistic carnivore", feeding on small vertebrates and invertebrates, including small frogs and water snakes. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Reproduction	Both parents tend the clutch. — FishBase
Appearance and size	Herichthys cyanoguttatus can grow to be over 13 in and is differentiated by its distinctive characteristics and specific habitat needs. This cichlid is recognized by its cream and turquoise spots. Adult males also develop a nuchal hump on their heads. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Biology	Adults inhabit pools and runs of small to large rivers; prefers warm water and vegetation. They feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. — FishBase
History and naming	The Texas cichlid was originally part of the genus Cichlasoma until that group was restricted to South American cichlids. — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Maximum recorded lifespan

Reported5years

FishBase 1645

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter.

Adult length

Average of sources8.1–11.8in

FishBase 1644.4–11.8

Seriously Fish species profiles 16711.8

Common length to maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Reported68–91°F

FishBase 16468–91

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Average of sources6.2–7.5

FishBase 1646.5–7.5

Seriously Fish species profiles 1676–7.5

Water hardness

Average of sources5–12dGH

FishBase 1645–12

Seriously Fish species profiles 1675–12

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=commercial; AquariumFishII=based mainly on breeding; captive longevity record; aquarium reproduction record)
116 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.