Cupid cichlid
Biotodoma cupido
The gentle 'eartheater': an Amazonian cichlid that sifts sand through its mouth searching for micro-invertebrates — a fascinating behavior to observe. Silvery body with iridescent green reflections and a prominent dark ocellus on the flank. Peaceful for a cichlid: lives in groups of 5–8+. Exemplary biparental care. Fine sand mandatory for natural sifting behavior. Sensitive to water quality. Plant-safe with robust plants (Anubias, Java Fern).
Wassertemperatur
25 - 30 °C
pH-Wert
5 - 7
Wassertyp
Süßwasser
Tankfüllstand
Unten und in der Mitte
Erwachsenengröße
14 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 150 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 5
GH
1 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 5 dKH
TDS
25 - 200 ppm
Leitfähigkeit
39 - 313 uS/cm
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Amazon River basin and Essequibo (Peru, Brazil, Guyana). Prefers slow-flowing waters, quiet bays (cochas) with sandy bottoms covered by a thick litter of decaying leaves and fallen branches.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Cupid Cichlid (Biotodoma cupido). An atypical and small/medium-sized "eartheater". It has a rounded profile with a characteristic dark line running through the eye and a showy teardrop-shaped spot (ocellus) in the upper rear half of the body.
Social Behavior: Peaceful and almost shy cichlid. Shows a marked gregarious behavior; should preferably be kept in groups of 5-6 specimens or more. Outside the breeding season, it is one of the most placid cichlids around.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Delicate and pastel livery: gray-beige background that in well-kept aquariums develops amazing iridescent purple, pink, green and light blue reflections. Very weak dimorphism; only during reproduction the female (smaller) shows the enlarged genital papilla.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Spacious tank (min. 120 cm / 48 inches). Mandatory a bottom of fine sand (not gravel) as they constantly sift the substrate. Create shaded areas with intertwined woods and Indian almond leaves to mitigate their shyness.
Diet and Feeding: Benthic (Bottom micro-predator). Sifts the sand in search of invertebrates. In the aquarium it accepts everything, but a diet based on bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp is necessary to enhance its colors. Use fine sinking bottom pellets.
Water Quality: Needs warm (25-30°C / 77-86°F), acidic and soft water, but above all extremely clean. It is very sensitive to the accumulation of pollutants (nitrates); large and frequent water changes are essential.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Excellent for the peaceful Amazonian community aquarium. Perfect with Tetras (Cardinals, Rummy-nose), Corydoras, and calm Loricariids. Avoid large belligerent cichlids or dominant "Eartheaters" like Geophagus that would terrify them.
Aquarium Breeding: Open substrate spawner. They form pair bonds within the group. They choose flat rocks, pieces of wood or depressions in the sand to lay up to 200 eggs, vigorously defending the small breeding area.
Risks and Diseases: The main enemy is "Hexamita" (Hole-in-the-head disease), often triggered by chronic stress, poor diet or too high nitrates. If exposed to sharp gravel they will get infected wounds to the mouth parts.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Amazon River basin and Essequibo (Peru, Brazil, Guyana). Prefers slow-flowing waters, quiet bays (cochas) with sandy bottoms covered by a thick litter of decaying leaves and fallen branches.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeAmazonas, Orinoco und GuayanaOstasien
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Outside of the breeding season, Biotodoma cupido is a remarkably peaceful and somewhat timid cichlid. They exhibit interesting social behaviors within their group, establishing a mild dominance hierarchy that rarely results in physical harm. However, they can become territorial and protective of their spawning sites when breeding, showing lip-locking and pit-digging displays. Because of their shy nature, they should not be housed with aggressive, boisterous, or overly dominant tankmates that might intimidate them or outcompete them for food.
- Diät
- Omnivore
- This benthophagous cichlid feeds by mouthfuls of substrate, filtering edible items and expelling the rest of the sand. Their diet should consist of a variety of high-quality fine-grade pellets or flakes, combined with live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, Artemia, and Tubifex. It is important to include vegetable matter, such as Spirulina, to ensure a balanced nutritional intake. Rather than one large meal, it is recommended to feed them multiple small portions throughout the day to support their natural browsing habits.
- Lebenserwartung
- 5-10 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 14 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Group
- Biotodoma cupido is a gregarious species that naturally lives in loose groups rather than strict pairs or harems. In the aquarium, they should be kept in a group of at least 5 to 8 individuals to distribute minor aggression and establish a natural dominance hierarchy. Keeping them in smaller numbers can result in the weaker specimens being bullied or the group becoming excessively timid and nervous. While they form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, a group setting remains the best stocking method for their long-term well-being.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- For optimal growth and health, the Cupid Cichlid should be fed three to four small portions daily. This frequent feeding schedule mimics their natural behavior in the wild, where they continuously sift through the sand for micro-organisms and organic matter. Providing small, regular meals prevents digestion issues and ensures that subordinate individuals in the group get enough food. It also helps to keep them active and engaged in their natural foraging patterns.
- Bioload
- Medium
- The Cupid Cichlid has a medium biological waste production, primarily due to its sand-sifting feeding behavior which constantly stirs up the substrate and releases organic debris. To maintain the pristine water conditions this sensitive species requires, a robust filtration system combining efficient mechanical and biological media is necessary. Weekly water changes of 50% to 70% are highly recommended to prevent the accumulation of nitrates and other toxins. If waste management is neglected, these fish are prone to health issues like head and lateral line erosion.
- Fluss
- Strong
- In their natural habitat, Biotodoma cupido inhabits calm river bends and slow-moving forest streams, so they prefer a weak to moderate water flow in the aquarium. High-velocity or torrential currents should be avoided as they can stress the fish and impede their sand-sifting activities. However, efficient filtration is still necessary to maintain the high water quality they require, which can be achieved by using spray bars or deflecting the flow. A gentle increase in water movement can sometimes be used to simulate seasonal changes and trigger breeding behavior.
- Sprungrisiko
- No
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- Biotodoma cupido is a biparental substrate spawner, typically choosing a solid surface like a partially buried rock or plant roots to deposit eggs. Breeding them in captivity can be challenging, as they require 18 to 24 months to reach sexual maturity and need specific environmental triggers, such as simulating the transition from the dry to the wet season with soft, acidic water changes and a temporary increase in water movement. The female initiates the courtship, cleans the spawning site, and lays the entire clutch before the male makes a single pass to fertilize them. Both parents fiercely guard the eggs and fry, with the female managing the nest and the male patrolling the surrounding territory.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Peaceful
- The Cupid Cichlid is an excellent candidate for a peaceful community aquarium with tankmates that thrive in similar soft, acidic water conditions. Suitable companions include peaceful tetras, pencilfish, hatchetfish, Corydoras catfish, and other non-aggressive dwarf cichlids like Apistogramma. Aggressive, large, or fast-swimming species should be avoided, as they can easily stress this shy fish and outcompete them for food. It is vital to keep Biotodoma cupido in a group of their own kind, as their social structure prevents single individuals from becoming overly stressed or nervous.
- Tankfüllstand
- Middle/Bottom
- This species is primarily a bottom-dwelling and lower-middle column swimmer, closely tied to the substrate due to its sand-sifting nature. They spend most of their active hours scanning and digging through the sand in search of food. An open swimming area at the bottom, furnished with a thick layer of soft sand, is essential for their natural behavior. While they may occasionally rise to the middle level to interact or feed, they rarely venture into the upper levels of the aquarium.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 3,3 ± 0,5 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Hoch (weniger als 15 Monate)
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.75
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.0195, b = 3.06
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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