freshwater
Rio Grande Cichlid
Herichthys cyanoguttatus
Oval-shaped, compressed body with a light-to-dark grey or olive-green base color. It is covered in numerous small, iridescent blue to turquoise spots (specks) that extend onto the fins. Adults may develop a nuchal hump on the forehead.
- Habitat
- Found in warm, still or slow-moving freshwater such as r…
- Size & weight
- Typically 6 to 10 inches in length, though it can grow u…
- Diet
- Omnivorous feeder that consumes insects, crustaceans, sm…
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Physical characteristics
Oval-shaped, compressed body with a light-to-dark grey or olive-green base color. It is covered in numerous small, iridescent blue to turquoise spots (specks) that extend onto the fins. Adults may develop a nuchal hump on the forehead.
Habitat & distribution
Found in warm, still or slow-moving freshwater such as rivers, canals, and lagoons with vegetation or rocky cover. Native to the Rio Grande drainage in Texas and Northeastern Mexico.
Behavior
Highly territorial and aggressive, especially during spawning. It is a diurnal species that stays close to cover like submerged logs or rocks.
Diet
Omnivorous feeder that consumes insects, crustaceans, small fish, and plant matter/detritus. It uses its pharyngeal teeth to crush hard-shelled prey.
Reproduction
Substrate spawners where both parents guard the eggs and fry. They lay several hundred to thousands of eggs on a cleaned flat surface like a rock.
Ecological role
Acts as both a predator of small invertebrates and a competitor for nesting sites. In non-native areas, it may displace native sunfish species.
Similar species
Texas Cichlid (Herichthys carpintis), which typically has larger, less numerous, and more plate-like iridescent spots rather than fine specks.
Identification tips
Look for the intense blue-white speckling across the entire body and the distinct vertical bars that may appear when the fish is stressed or breeding.
Interesting facts
It is the only cichlid species native to the United States. Despite being a freshwater fish, it has a high tolerance for brackish water.