Keyhole Cichlid Identification Guide

Key identification features

• Small, oval, laterally compressed body typical of quiet-water South American cichlids
• Overall pale gray to tan or beige coloration with subdued, muted tones
• Diagnostic dark blotch on the upper flank below the dorsal fin, shaped like a keyhole with a rounded top connected to a vertical bar
• Dark stripe running through the eye
• Fins are mostly clear to faintly dusky, without bold color or barring
• Modest adult size, typically 10-12 cm, with a peaceful, unhurried swimming style

Common look-alikes

• Chocolate cichlid juveniles: show a mottled brown pattern without the distinct rounded-and-barred keyhole blotch found on the flank of keyhole cichlids.
• Dwarf pike cichlids: have a more elongated, torpedo-shaped body and a simple lateral stripe rather than a keyhole-shaped mark.
• Port acara: displays a broader dark blotch behind the gill cover and a stockier body, lacking the neat keyhole outline.

Where you'll see one

Keyhole cichlids inhabit slow-moving blackwater and clearwater streams of the Guianas and the lower Orinoco basin in northern South America. They are typically found among leaf litter, submerged wood, and dense vegetation in shaded, tannin-stained waters.