Jaguar cichlid
Parachromis managuensis
A huge Central American predator with jaguar spots, growing to about 21.5 inches; always territorial and ready to eat any smaller fish.
Key facts
- Body length
- 21.7 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 202 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Predatory
- Care level
- 4 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Large carnivore pellets, frozen fish, krill and shrimp
- Origin
- Central America
- Hardier than44%
- Bigger than98%
- Calmer than5%
Water: their range vs yours
Jaguar cichlid tank mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Kissing gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Senegal bichirGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Banded archerfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidJaguar cichlid (predatory) will bully the peaceful Blue dolphin cichlid.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 17550 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Clown loachJaguar cichlid (predatory) will bully the peaceful Clown loach.Risky
- Common plecoJaguar cichlid (predatory) will bully the peaceful Amazon sailfin catfish (common pleco).Risky
- Leopard sailfin plecoJaguar cichlid (predatory) will bully the peaceful Leopard sailfin pleco.Risky
- OscarTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 19800 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Neon tetraJaguar cichlid can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 17.6 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraJaguar cichlid can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 17.6 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyJaguar cichlid can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 17.6 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasJaguar cichlid can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 17.6 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusJaguar cichlid can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 17.6 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpJaguar cichlid can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 17.6 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for jaguar cichlids: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 55 cm (TL)
- Adult mass
- 4246.63 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 253.93 BU
- Min. water
- 648 L net
- Min. footprint
- 180 × 60 cm per pair
- Group
- 1+ (best 2)
- Swims in
- middle, bottom
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- carnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Parachromis managuensis · FishBase: Parachromis managuensis
Care notes
Jaguar cichlids are highly predatory fish from Central America. They hold territories permanently, dig pits for their fry and turn very aggressive when breeding.
An adult pair needs a 6-foot tank of 180 gallons or more, and plants will not survive the digging. Anything smaller, from tetras to catfish and shrimp, is food.
Questions
What size tank does a jaguar cichlid need?
At least 202 gallons (648 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 21.7 inches without fins.
How many jaguar cichlids should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do jaguar cichlids need?
75–86 °F, pH 7–8 and 10–15 dGH. Jaguar cichlids come from Central America.
How long do jaguar cichlids live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with jaguar cichlids?
Good tank mates include Assassin snail, Kissing gourami, Senegal bichir and Banded archerfish. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.