Festa Cichlid Aquarium Care Guide

Keeping Festa Cichlid in an aquarium requires the right conditions.

Aquarium Information

• Care level: advanced
• Temperament: aggressive
• Diet: carnivore
• Minimum tank size: 250 gallons (946 liters) for a single adult, larger for pairs or community tanks with appropriate tank mates.
• Compatibility: Due to their extreme aggression and large size, Herichthys festae are best kept as a single specimen or a proven breeding pair in a very large aquarium. If kept in a community setting, tank mates must be equally large, robust, and aggressive cichlids or other large, durable fish that can withstand their territorial nature. Examples include other large Central/South American cichlids (e.g., Flowerhorn, Oscar, Green Terror) or large armored catfish.
• Special requirements: A very large aquarium with robust filtration is essential. Provide plenty of hiding places and territorial markers using large rocks, caves, and driftwood. Substrate should be sand or fine gravel. Live plants are generally not recommended as they will be uprooted. Excellent water quality with regular large water changes is crucial. They require a high-protein diet consisting of quality cichlid pellets, frozen foods (e.g., krill, shrimp, mussels), and occasional live foods (e.g., earthworms, feeder fish in moderation).

Water parameters

Temperature

75-82°F (24-28°C)

pH level

7.0-8.0

Hardness

10-20 dGH

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