Parachromis dovii
The Parachromis dovii or wolf cichlid inhabits water bodies in Central America, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the wild. The fish are found in low-lying, rocky bottoms. The fish is named after the English naturalist John M. Dow. This is the largest cichlid in the world.
Parachromis dovii is a very intelligent fish that will win your heart with its amazing personality. The mature male has a rich golden-yellow to silvery body background with blue, black and purple spots. His head is green-red and his fins and tail plumage are blue-green. The females are almost entirely yellow. Sex determination: Males are usually significantly larger and more colourful - this is the only sure way to determine sex. Adult fish average 71-76 cm (males) and 38-46 cm (females).
This fish is becoming very large, therefore a large aquarium is a must! Recommended minimum tank size: 660 l for a single fish, 880 l or larger for a pair. Successful fish breeding also requires large aquariums with a capacity of approximately 2500 liters. Numerous rocks of various sizes should be placed at the bottom of the aquarium, imitating the rock formations in which these fish live in nature. At the same time, the aquarium should have plenty of open space for free swimming.
Speaking of swimming, the Parachromis dovii is an active swimmer. The fish has a characteristic attitude, it is very intelligent and looks as if it is trained. She is one of the most intelligent fish.
The cichlid wolf is an extremely aggressive fish. If you want to keep it in a common aquarium with other fish species, you will need lots of rocks with which to delimit territories. Use a mixture of sand and gravel as substrate.
The wolf cichlid is a very easy fish to keep, so it's great for novice aquarists who need a large aquatic pet. They are not demanding, but their large teeth show that they are a voracious predator that needs to be respected. Remember this when feeding them or prophylactically dipping your hand into the aquarium!
Water parameters: temperature 23-29° C, hardness dH 7-20°, acidity pH 7,0-8,2. Need aeration, filtration and substitution 2-3 times a week for 1/4 of the aquarium water fresh. This fish also tends to jump out of the water, so it is important to cover the aquarium with a cover.
The juveniles feed on flaked, pelleted and frozen food. As they grow, the size and amount of food should increase proportionally. Earthworms, crickets, cockroaches and live food fish are all readily eaten by large Dovii.
Reproduction
The female lays eggs on the surface of a large flat rock. The spawning process is at times very violent. Female with a fierce lunge at other fish, blowing wide gills to prove their superiority. A total of 500 to 1000 eggs are released during the spawning process. The eggs incubate for 3 days after which the larvae hatch out. The fry begin to swim freely after 5-7 days. At this stage, it is best to try to remove the fry and transfer them to another tank or they may become food for their parents.
The Parachromis dovii can live up to 30 years under aquarium conditions.
