Jewel cichlid
Hemichromis bimaculatus
- Tank length
- 100 cmabout 3 ft (39 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C73–81 °F
- pH
- 6.4–7.5
- Adult size
- 10 cm4 in
- Lifespan
- 5–8 yrs
Breeding pairs become very aggressive and will kill tankmates; keep a pair alone or with sturdy fish in a long tank.Breeding pairs become very aggressive and will kill tankmates; keep a pair alone or with sturdy fish in a long tank.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Jewel cichlidAlligator gar may eat Jewel cichlid
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Jewel cichlidAntenna ray may eat Jewel cichlid
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Jewel cichlidArapaima may eat Jewel cichlid
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | West Africa, coastal rivers | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 5–8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 100 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |