Midas Cichlid
Amphilophus citrinellus
The Midas Cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus) is an aggressive fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 300 litres (79 US gallons), water held at 70-79°F, and a pH of 6.5-8.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Africa / South America (varies)
- Africa
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Midas Cichlid Tank Setup
Give them at least 300 litres (79 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 70-79°F and a pH around 6.5-8.5. They grow to around 35 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Midas Cichlids Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Midas Cichlid Tank Mates
May nip fins; avoid with long-finned or slow tankmates. Predatory; may eat small fish or inverts. Requires a large tank and good filtration. The Midas Cichlid is aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Midas Cichlids Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Midas Cichlid - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Midas Cichlids need?
Midas Cichlids need a tank of at least 300 litres (79 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Midas Cichlids need?
Keep them at 70-79°F with a pH of 6.5-8.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Midas Cichlids eat?
Midas Cichlids are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Midas Cichlids good for beginners?
Midas Cichlids are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Midas Cichlids
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 300 litres (79 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Midas Cichlids will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Midas Cichlids
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Neon TetraSize risk - Midas Cichlids will likely eat Neon Tetra at adult size
