Common name: Jewel cichlid

Scientific name: Hemichromis sp.

Type of fish: Cichlid

Origin: West Africa (Congo River)

Level of difficulty: Intermediate

Max size: 5 inches

Growth Rate: Fast

Minimum tank size: 29 gallons

Diet: omnivore

pH: 6.5-7.5

Hardiness: Hardy

Aggressiveness: Many are extremely aggressive, while others (like mine) are laid-back

Tankmates: other Jewel cichlids, medium-sized American cichlids, African cichlids, Congo tetras, Synodontis catfish

Sexing: The red lining on the tip of the caudal/tail fin in females goes only halfway down from top to bottom.

Notes: Commonly comes in 2 color forms: red and turquoise. Some are reported to be highly aggressive but this is not the case for mine.