Identity and search names

Common name
Keyhole cichlid
Scientific name
Cleithracara maronii
Other names
Aequidens maronii, Maroni acara, Keyhole acara
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Medium cichlids
Origin
Lower Orinoco and coastal Guiana drainages of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana
Review outcome
PASSED

Environment and housing

Environment
Freshwater
Care level
Beginner to intermediate
Adult size
Usually 8–10 cm total length; published maximum about 7.1 cm standard length
Expected lifespan
About 8–10 years
Minimum housing
At least 150 L for one adult or a compatible pair, with quiet refuge and visual barriers
Temperature
22–27 °C
pH
4.0–7.5
Hardness or minerals
Very soft to moderately hard
Salinity
Freshwater
Lighting
Subdued to moderate with shaded cover
Social structure
Keep one fish, a proven compatible pair or a juvenile group in a substantially larger aquarium
Placement or swimming zone
Lower and middle water
Temperament
Peaceful and shy outside breeding, but territorial around a brood
Compatibility
Use calm similarly sized fish; avoid boisterous cichlids, persistent fin-nippers and large predators
Habitat structure
Mature aquarium with sand, leaf litter, wood, plants, open substrate and several shaded retreats

Feeding and nutrition

Diet
Small aquatic invertebrates, detrital foods and quality omnivore-cichlid preparations
Feeding frequency
Feed small varied portions once or twice daily and confirm shy fish are not displaced

Breeding and reproduction

Breeding or reproduction
A compatible pair cleans stone, wood or another open surface, lays adhesive eggs and jointly guards eggs, larvae and free-swimming fry
Parental care
Strong biparental egg and fry care

System demands

Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope
This profile applies to Cleithracara maronii, formerly Aequidens maronii. The flank blotch and overall body shape should be checked because stressed juveniles and other small South American cichlids can be mislabelled in trade.
Adult size and space
Usually 8–10 cm total length; published maximum about 7.1 cm standard length. At least 150 L for one adult or a compatible pair, with quiet refuge and visual barriers. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, social structure, aggression and waste production rather than sale size.
Social structure
Keep one fish, a proven compatible pair or a juvenile group in a substantially larger aquarium
Placement or swimming zone
Primary zone: Lower and middle water. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding and refuge.
Feeding ecology
Small aquatic invertebrates, detrital foods and quality omnivore-cichlid preparations
Feeding plan
Feed small varied portions once or twice daily and confirm shy fish are not displaced
Water stability
Maintain 22–27 °C; pH 4.0–7.5; hardness/minerals: Very soft to moderately hard. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.
Adult projected load
Plan capacity for Keep one fish, a proven compatible pair or a juvenile group in a substantially larger aquarium at the documented adult size (Usually 8–10 cm total length; published maximum about 7.1 cm standard length) in At least 150 L for one adult or a compatible pair, with quiet refuge and visual barriers. Include feeding intensity, territorial behaviour and breeding growth rather than counting sale-size juveniles.
Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.
Habitat structure
Mature aquarium with sand, leaf litter, wood, plants, open substrate and several shaded retreats
Compatibility plan
Use calm similarly sized fish; avoid boisterous cichlids, persistent fin-nippers and large predators
Breeding plan
A compatible pair cleans stone, wood or another open surface, lays adhesive eggs and jointly guards eggs, larvae and free-swimming fry Parental care: Strong biparental egg and fry care.
Quarantine
Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated equipment. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm feeding and normal respiration, and never add transport water to the established aquarium.
Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. This cichlid is easily intimidated. A busy community can leave it permanently hidden, underfed and unable to establish a secure breeding territory.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
Main risk
This cichlid is easily intimidated. A busy community can leave it permanently hidden, underfed and unable to establish a secure breeding territory.
Overridable warnings
This cichlid is easily intimidated. A busy community can leave it permanently hidden, underfed and unable to establish a secure breeding territory. Any override must still preserve adult space, social welfare, stable chemistry, oxygen and filter capacity.

Welfare and risk

Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. This cichlid is easily intimidated. A busy community can leave it permanently hidden, underfed and unable to establish a secure breeding territory.
Main warning
This cichlid is easily intimidated. A busy community can leave it permanently hidden, underfed and unable to establish a secure breeding territory.
Biosecurity
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.

Sources

Source note

Current identity or scope, husbandry, system-demand, welfare and Australian biosecurity evidence checked; active retired-source links removed; all AquaNexus wording is original.

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