TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Cupid cichlid
★New · no ratings yetPicture coming

Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Cupid cichlid

Biotodoma cupido · Biotodoma, Green cupid

Peaceful and good with other medium-sized peaceful fish.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
12 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
5–7pH ✓
304 LSmallest tank ✓
Add to my tankCompare
Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Cupid cichlid is tropical.
  • They need different temperatures (24–28 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (24–28 °C vs 10–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Oscar eats animals up to about 12 cm. Cupid cichlid only grows to 12 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

319 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓1–5 dGH
Group size ✓5 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 4–6 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful and good with other medium-sized peaceful fish.

  • sand

Food

Small sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Difficult: males grow a little larger, are deeper-bodied and develop longer filaments on the dorsal and tail fins. The blue head-stripe pattern often quoted is not reliable, and fish take 18-24 months to mature.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner (pair) · Hard

Biparental substrate spawner that lays its eggs on the side of a rock, often one partly buried in sand. The female tends the eggs while the male patrols; after hatching the fry are moved to a pit, and both parents guard the free-swimming fry for about 6 weeks. A dry-to-wet season simulation (calm, then daily soft-water changes) helps trigger spawning.

Pairing

Raise 6 juveniles together and let a pair form, then remove the rest or provide a very large tank.

Setup

A 100 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, flat stones, clay caves or flowerpots, and a sand bed.

What starts it

Strong conditioning on frozen and live food plus a large water change with slightly warmer water.

Eggs

Eggs hatch in 3-4 days at 23-24 °C; the fry absorb their yolk in a pit for about 4 more days before swimming freely.

Raising the fry

Both parents guard the brood; feed fry newly hatched brine shrimp and finely crushed flake.

Common mistakes
  • A tank too small for the pair's territory
  • Tankmates the pair will chase
  • Removing the parents too early
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionAmazon basin and Guianas
Rivers and lakesAmazon tributaries in Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia, and the Essequibo
HabitatSlow, clear or blackwater rivers over sand
Native rangeAbout 1,500 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the cupid cichlid

A peaceful, sand-sifting eartheater from across the Amazon basin and the Essequibo, with a dark blotch high on the rear flank. It lives in loose groups and varies in colour by locality.

Heckel described this cichlid in 1840 from Natterer's Amazon collections, originally in Geophagus. It is a small relative of the eartheaters that sifts sand for food. Its soft colours and calm behaviour won it a following among South American cichlid fans.

First described by Johann J. Heckel in 1840. Named for Named after Cupid, the Roman god of love.

  • It shows a dark stripe through the eye.
  • It sifts sand for small food items.
  • It is a peaceful substrate spawner.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources