Wolf Cichlid

The wolf cichlid (dovii) is the largest cichlid of Central America. Males can reach 50–60 cm in the aquarium and even larger sizes in the wild; females stay noticeably smaller. With its long body, huge mouth that can extend forward and protruding lower jaw, it is a typical predator.

Juveniles and females carry a dark horizontal band and blotches on a yellowish background. Maturing males turn a silvery blue or greenish color, and their bodies become covered with small dark spots.

It is loved as an intelligent fish that bonds with its owner; but it is considered one of the most aggressive fish that can be kept in an aquarium. Before buying one, you need an aquarium of at least 1000 liters, strong filtration and a care plan for its whole lifespan.

It lives in the lakes and rivers of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In large lakes and wide rivers it hunts fish from ambush near cover of stones and roots. In the region it is a valued sport and food fish.

• Volume: At least 1000 liters and 250 cm of length for a single adult male; a smaller tank is temporarily sufficient for a female or juveniles.
• Decor: A few very large stones, a large open area. Decor should rest directly on the glass.
• Equipment: A sump or several large canister filters, a protected heater and a heavy lid.
• Maintenance: A 30–50% water change every week; it produces a lot of waste.

Carnivorous. Use a large carnivore cichlid granule or stick food as the staple; vary the diet with frozen shrimp, mussels, squid and white fish fillet. Live feeder fish are not recommended because of the risk of disease. Feed adults once a day or every other day.

It sees every creature in the tank as prey or a rival. It may attack hands and injure them with its sharp teeth; care is needed during maintenance.

Good companions: It is best kept alone. In setups on the scale of a large public aquarium, it has been kept with large plecos and giant cichlids.

Avoid: Every fish smaller than itself, other cichlids, shrimp, snails, plants.

Kept alone. Forming a pair is very risky: the male can easily kill the female. Experienced breeders introduce pairs through a perforated divider for weeks and watch them constantly.

The pair can lay thousands of eggs on a cleaned stone. The parents guard the eggs and fry extremely aggressively. Breeding it in a home aquarium is not recommended, both for safety and because of the number of fry.

• Hole-in-the-head disease (HLLE): With insufficient water changes and a poor diet.
• Mouth and jaw injuries: When it lunges at the glass and decor.
• Fatty deposits: With too much food and fatty foods.

The male grows much larger and takes on a silvery blue or greenish color with dense small spots. The female is smaller; her dark horizontal band and blotches on a yellowish background are prominent. A reliable distinction is made by the papilla.