Pearlscale cichlid
Herichthys carpintis
A big Mexican cichlid speckled with pearly blue spots; it digs, holds a territory for life and treats small fish as food.
Key facts
- Body length
- 12 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 64 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Cichlid pellets, frozen bloodworm and mysis, some vegetable matter
- Origin
- Gulf slope of Mexico, Central America
- Hardier than22%
- Bigger than93%
- Calmer than14%
Water: their range vs yours
Pearlscale cichlid tank mates
- Clown loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Red swamp crayfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Redclaw crayfishGets 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
- Blood parrot cichlidPearlscale cichlid can eat young or small Blood parrot cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidPearlscale cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Blue dolphin cichlid.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 11310 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Convict cichlidPearlscale cichlid can eat young or small Convict cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- DiscusPearlscale cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Discus.Risky
- Jewel cichlidPearlscale cichlid can eat young or small Jewel cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Neon tetraPearlscale cichlid can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 9.2 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraPearlscale cichlid can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 9.2 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyPearlscale cichlid can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 9.2 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasPearlscale cichlid can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 9.2 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusPearlscale cichlid can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 9.2 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpPearlscale cichlid can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 9.2 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for pearlscale cichlids: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 30.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 851.18 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 57.28 BU
- Min. water
- 205 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 38 cm per pair
- Group
- 1+ (best 2)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Herichthys carpintis
Care notes
Pearlscale cichlids come from Mexico and grow to about 12 inches. They are pair-living fish that claim a territory and keep it, rearranging the substrate as they go.
Plan for a 55-gallon tank as a bare minimum for a pair, and expect plants to be dug up. Small fish and shrimp will be eaten, and a male can turn on a female that is not ready to spawn, so a divider helps when breeding.
Questions
What size tank does a pearlscale cichlid need?
At least 64 gallons (205 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 12 inches without fins.
How many pearlscale cichlids should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do pearlscale cichlids need?
75–79 °F, pH 7–7.5 and 8–14 dGH. Pearlscale cichlids come from Gulf slope of Mexico, Central America.
How long do pearlscale cichlids live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with pearlscale cichlids?
Good tank mates include Clown loach, Common pleco, Leopard sailfin pleco, Severum and Red swamp crayfish. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.