{"id":13754,"date":"2026-02-18T01:20:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T01:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/tuba-mesoamerican-cichlid-tomocichla-tuba-5cm\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T01:20:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T01:20:22","slug":"tuba-mesoamerican-cichlid-tomocichla-tuba-5cm","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=tuba-mesoamerican-cichlid-tomocichla-tuba-5cm","title":{"rendered":"Tuba Mesoamerican Cichlid Tomocichla Tuba 5cm"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Tomocichla tuba<\/p>\n<p>Scientific Name: Tomocichla tuba<\/p>\n<p>Common Names: Tuba Cichlid, Tuba Mesoamerican Cichlid<\/p>\n<p>Overview<br \/>\nThe Tomocichla tuba is a striking and relatively rare species of cichlid native to the freshwater rivers and lakes of Central America, particularly found in the countries of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Known for its unique body shape and vivid coloration, the Tuba Cichlid is a stunning addition to aquariums that can house more robust and larger fish. This species exhibits beautiful yellow, orange, and red hues on its body, with males often being more colorful than females. Tomocichla tuba can be territorial, especially during breeding, but they are an excellent choice for experienced aquarists who enjoy keeping cichlids with a bit more personality and aggression.<\/p>\n<p>Key Information<br \/>\nSize: 8\u201310 inches (20\u201325 cm)<br \/>\nLifespan: 6\u201310 years<br \/>\nTemperament: Semi-aggressive, territorial during breeding<br \/>\nDiet: Omnivore<br \/>\nSwimming Level: Middle to bottom level<\/p>\n<p>Habitat &amp; Tank Setup<br \/>\nTank Size: Minimum 55 gallons for a single fish, larger for a pair or group<br \/>\nGroup Size: Best kept as a pair or alone due to territoriality<br \/>\nSubstrate: Fine gravel or sand<br \/>\nDecor: Rocks, driftwood, and caves for hiding and territory marking<br \/>\nPlants: Hardy plants such as Java Fern, Anubias, or Amazon Sword<br \/>\nLighting: Moderate to bright<br \/>\nFiltration: High-quality filtration with moderate to strong water movement<\/p>\n<p>Water Parameters<br \/>\nTemperature: 75\u201382\u00b0F (24\u201328\u00b0C)<br \/>\npH: 7.0\u20138.0<br \/>\nHardness: Moderately hard (8\u201315 dGH)<br \/>\nWater Quality: Clean, well-oxygenated water with regular water changes<\/p>\n<p>Feeding<br \/>\nDiet Type: Omnivore<br \/>\nSuitable Foods:<br \/>\nHigh-quality pellets or flakes<br \/>\nFrozen or live foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, earthworms)<br \/>\nVegetables such as zucchini, spinach, and peas<br \/>\nFeeding Frequency: 1\u20132 times per day, in moderate portions<\/p>\n<p>Tankmates<br \/>\nCompatible With:<br \/>\nLarger, semi-aggressive fish like other Central American cichlids<br \/>\nPeaceful species that are large enough to coexist with them<br \/>\nOther fish that are not small enough to be seen as prey<br \/>\nAvoid:<br \/>\nSmall or delicate species that might be outcompeted for food or harassed<br \/>\nAggressive species that could cause conflicts<\/p>\n<p>Care Notes<br \/>\nBreeding: Tomocichla tuba is an egg-laying cichlid that forms monogamous pairs. They can be very territorial during breeding, often defending their nesting site aggressively. Providing plenty of hiding spots and space is essential during the breeding season.<br \/>\nTemperament: These cichlids can be aggressive, especially when establishing territories or during breeding. A well-planted tank with many hiding places will help reduce aggression.<br \/>\nWater Quality: Keeping the water clean and stable is crucial. Frequent water changes are necessary to maintain optimal health.<br \/>\nSocial Nature: Tomocichla tuba does best in tanks where it is the dominant fish, or when kept with similarly robust species. Males can be quite dominant and territorial, especially when breeding.<\/p>\n<p>Fun Fact<br \/>\nThe Tuba Cichlid gets its name from the unique &#8220;tuba&#8221; shape of its mouth, which is somewhat funnel-shaped, a feature it shares with several other Central American cichlids. This cichlid is an excellent choice for advanced hobbyists who appreciate cichlids with more complex behavior and beautiful coloration, but they require a larger aquarium and well-maintained water conditions to thrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tomocichla tuba Scientific Name: Tomocichla tuba Common Names: Tuba Cichlid, Tuba Mesoamerican Cichlid Overview The Tomocichla tuba is a striking and relatively rare species of cichlid native to the freshwater rivers and lakes of Central America, particularly found in the countries of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Known for its unique body shape and vivid coloration, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":13753,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[67],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13754","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-cichlasoma","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/13754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=13754"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=13754"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=13754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}