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Salvini Cichlid

Salvin's Cichlid ~ Yellow-Belly Cichlid ~ Tricolor Cichlid Family: Cichlidae

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Cichlasoma salvini

   When spawning the Salvini Cichlid becomes intensely attractive, sporting a very deep yellow with black markings!

   When purchased as a juvenile the Salvini Cichlid is a rather drab, washed out yellow or gray fish. But when they mature and are in breeding colors watch out! These beautiful fish will make your tank incredibly vibrant.

   The Salvini Cichlid requires a lot of free swimming space and plenty of hiding places among rocks and wood. Providing plants is fine too as they don't burrow or attack them, and they will actually have better colors in a planted environment. Placing plants and decor around the inside perimeter of the tank will leave an open area in the center for swimming.

  Though a relatively smaller cichlid, reaching only about 6", the Salvini Cichlid is a moderately aggressive fish. Like other aggressive cichlids they are territorial, intolerant, and biters. They are predators and will eat smaller fish and invertebrates. They can be kept singly or in pairs in a large species tank with lots of hiding places. They can also be kept in a large tank with other South American cichlids such as the the Jack Dempsey and the Red Devil, except when spawning. They become more aggressive when they are in breeding mode.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Salvini Cichlid was described by Günther in 1862, and are also known as the Salvin's Cichlid, Yellow-Belly Cichlid, or Tricolor Cichlid. They are found in Central America along the Atlantic slope from southern Mexico to Guatemala, the Honduras, and Belize. They inhabit inhabit moderate and fast moving waters of rivers and lagoons at lower elevations, feeding on macro-invertebrates and small fishes.

Status:
   This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The overall body color of the Salvini Cichlid is yellow, with juveniles being a drab yellow or gray fish. There are some geographic variations, but in all cases the females are the most intensely colored. Females have reddish coloring along the belly and back and a black patch, edged in blue, in the middle of the dorsal fin. Males may have some blue hues along the back with blue streaks on the head. Some males may also have a reddish belly.

Size - Weight:
   These fish get up to 6 inches (15 cm).

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivorous the Salvini Cichlid will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food or pellet every day. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.
   A minimum 50 gallon aquarium is suggested for a single fish. A larger tank would be needed if keeping a pair (100 gallons or more is suggested) or if keeping them with other South American cichlids. They need good water movement along with strong and efficient filtration. Provide plenty of hiding places among rocks and wood. They don't burrow or attack plants and they are said to be better colored fish if kept in a planted aquarium. Plants around the inside perimeter of the tank will leave an open area in the center for swimming.
   The Salvini Cichlid can be rewarding to keep for aquarists that are observant and diligent in providing care. Frequent water changes are necessary as their excretions will cloud the water and promote disease. Do water changes of 20 to 25% a week depending on bio load. They are subject to infections as well as other diseases that ail all freshwater fish.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in the middle and lower areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 8-15° dGH
   Ph: 6.5 to 8.0
   Temp: 72-79° F (22-26° C), with 75° F (24° C) and above being best.

Social Behaviors:
   The Salvini Cichlid is not a good community fish. They are territorial and moderately aggressive, and more aggressive spawning. They are also a predator and will eat smaller fish. It is best kept singly in a species tank or with other moderately aggressive cichlids such as the Jack Dempsey and the Red Devil. It is said to be less aggressive when kept in an aquarium with hardy plants and plenty of cover, and if kept well fed.

Sexual Differences:
   Both sexes become more intensely yellow during spawning, and black markings appear along the center of the body and dorsal area. The female has a patch in the center of her dorsal fin and a dark spot on the lower edge of her gill cover.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Salvini Cichlids are egg layers and form a nuclear family. They are good parents and the fry are guarded by both the male and female. See the description of how these fish breed in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Buy Salvini Cichlid From LiveAquaria.com

Availability:
   The Salvini Cichlid (also called the Salvin's Cichlid, Yellow-Belly Cichlid, or Tricolor Cichlid) is generally available both online and in fish stores. It is usually moderately priced between about $6.00 - $14.00 USD, sometimes juveniles can be found for a bit less.

Author: David Brough, CFS

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Latest Comments
I have a pair of Salvini Cichlids. They are doing fine with the other fishes I have like the Danios, Blue Morph Cichlids, Serpae Tetra, Tiger Barbs, Botia Robusta, Pencil Fish, and Buenos Aires Tetra. One of the salvinis I have is around 3 inches, it's a bit aggressive but doesn't really harm other fishes. I would recommend it as a community fish though. Vishal Panchal 2009-04-11
I have 1 Salvini with 2 Jack Dempsey's, 2 Green Terror's, and a Frontosa. He is very territorial but also sociable. Good Fish. Kiran 12.11.07 Kiran 2007-11-12
i bought a pair, and they did breed. it was interesting and now i have like 100 or more little fish in my tank, which is great. Denise 2007-08-30
hi, i have bread salvins for 2 yrs. beware, very aggresive when they are mating and when the eggs have hatched. i recommend not to keep with any other species of fish as they will gang up on the other species, i've tryed it. lol kelvin 2007-08-28
I have almost 15 pair of Salvini, but they haven't killed any of my other fishes in the aquarium, which is morphs, blood parrot, and firemouth. I have a 4 foot huge tank. They are a bit aggressive, but have not killed other fishes. RAJESH 2007-08-23
Some of the coolest comments:
I have found this cichlid to be not as aggressive as mentioned by many people. I have even been able to keep a breeding pair with smaller species. They are very beautiful and never fail to draw comments from everyone who sees my 75gal. show tank. Currently I have severums, a high-backed headstander, and 3 species of catfish residing with the salvinis and all are doing well. Jason 2004-11-15
i had a salvini for a while, they are nice to have. he never attacked any of my fish but he always hid in a little house. i noticed my firemouth and convict were messing with him. his blue strips turned black and thats when he got very aggressive. the next thing i know he locks on with the firemouth and twist his mouth and the firemouth runs, then he locks on the convict. he was so aggressive i had to remove him from the tank. then my jack dempsey went into his house and i put the salvini back in the tank. he got mad again because the jack dempsey was in his house, so he attacked the jack dempsey. they locked on but the jack dempsey was a little bigger, same lengh just he was fatter, so the jack dempsey over powered the salvini. ever since that day i had to sell my salvini. it was a big tank and i had 3 houses in it, but he wanted that one. i suggest if you get a salvini put him in a tank alone. Mike 2004-07-18

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