The Jaguar Cichlid (Parachromis managuensis) is an interesting and large Central American cichlid, a popular choice among more experienced fishkeepers. What’s more, this species tends to be more and more beautiful as it ages.
As juveniles, these fish display black bands on their bodies and tail coatings that form a recognizable ‘J’, older ones will lose these features in favor of something more intricate known as “jaggy” markings, which can be seen all over this creature’s body!
Besides the captivating looks, the Jaguar Cichlids are easy to care for. When it comes to keeping this fish in a home aquarium, there are some things you should know. The most common questions asked by new owners are “how big do jaguar cichlids get?” and “what size tank do Jaguar Cichlids need?”
Keep on reading to find out.
How Big Do Jaguar Cichlids Get in the Wild and Captivity?
Jaguar cichlids are fairly large, highly predatory fish. Jaguar Cichlid size can vary, depending on the region they originate from.
In the wild, an adult Jaguar cichlid will typically grow to around 21″ to 24″ (55-63 cm) long and can weigh as much as about 3 1/2 pounds.
Fortunately, both males and females kept under captive conditions tend to grow smaller than those in a natural habitat. In captivity, male Jaguar cichlids can reach lengths of 16 inches (40 cm), while females only grow up to 14 inches (36 cm).
The full-grown size of a Jaguar cichlid can vary depending on its natural habitat, genetics, and nutrition. Jaguar Cichlids raised in captive conditions usually won’t reach the same size as those living free since captivity imposes limitations to their growth.
How Fast Do Jaguar Cichlids Grow?
Jaguar cichlids are considered relatively “slow” growers when compared to other Central American Cichlid species. You can expect a healthy juvenile Jag to grow quickly in the first six months. I remember mine grew an inch (sometimes a little more) every month in my 180g aquarium! The rate slows down once they get 6-8″, around a 1/4 to 1/2 inch per month.
How fast your Jaguar grows depends on several factors, such as balanced nutrition and ideal water parameters. Some aquarists reported their male Jags grew by nine to ten inches over 10 months, while others say their Jags took two to three years to grow from a two-inch baby Jaguar to a nine-inch fish.
What Minimum Tank Size Do you Need for Jaguar Cichlids?
Many aquarists follow the general rule of allotting a gallon of water for every inch of the fish.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with a Jaguar cichlid or most fish in the family Cichlidae, especially these predatory species. Advanced Jaguar aquarists recommend a minimum aquarium size of 125 gallons. If you want to give your Jaguar Cichlid the best comfortable life, more space is always better.
If you have a juvenile Jaguar cichlid, a 30-gallon fish tank is sufficient. However, it would be best to remember this fish can grow up to 16 inches. And if you’re successful in mimicking its natural habitat, your Jaguar might even surpass its maximum size.
What Tank Size Do I Need for a Breeding Pair Jaguar Cichlid?
The Jaguar Cichlid is moderately easy to breed. The breeding generally occurs when their environment and feeding habits seem to be “just right.”
However, it’s crucial to provide the pair with sufficient space to swim freely and look for a spot to bury their eggs until they hatch.
Hence, a 125-gallon aquarium won’t be enough. The minimum fish tank size you can get for a Jaguar cichlid breeding pair is 180 gallons. There will always be instances when one of your Jaguars will become aggressive. Increasing the tank size to 180 gallons should give the other Jaguar enough room to hide or steer clear of the other’s space.
How to Make Jaguar Cichlids Grow Faster?
Some Jaguar cichlid owners report a rapid growth of their fishes, while others grow at a snail’s pace. So, what gives? Here’s how you can make your Jaguar cichlids grow faster.
Provide a Balanced Diet
As carnivore predators, the Wild Jaguar cichlids eat almost anything that fits in their large mouths, including crickets, tadpoles, earthworms, and small fishes like goldfish. This fish is near the top of the food chain in its natural habitat.
Hence, I would recommend that it would be best to give your Jaguar cichlid its diet in the wild. That’s why many aquarists suggest feeding Jaguar cichlids with crayfish and cut-up fish. You can also try dry and freeze-dried foods.
I advise not to give your Jaguar beef heart, and other warm-blooded animal meats. These foods have high fat and protein content, not what you’d find in the Jaguar’s natural diet.
I recommend training your Jaguar cichlid to eat pellets and flakes for a more balanced diet. You can start giving these foods when your Jaguar is still young, ensuring they fit into the young fish’s mouth.
Jaguar cichlid pellets are specifically formulated for Jaguar cichlid growth. These fish pellets contain all essential nutrients to make your Jaguar grow faster, including minerals, vitamins, amino acids, high levels of fat, and antioxidants. If you’re looking for the main food source for your Jags, NLS Thera A along with Spirulina 20 would be a popular vote amongst cichlid keepers.
Juvenile cichlids are known for being greedy little creatures, but you might be surprised to learn that they actually need our help! It’s true; without proper care and feeding, your fish can become sick or even die. You should feed them once per day, with fasting one day weekly as an extra strategy in order to maintain high levels of water quality over time.
An efficient way to feed Jaguar cichlids is by using one of the automatic fish feeders while being away on vacation. The Jaguar cichlid cannot compete with other fish for food when you use an automatic feeder to slowly release small amounts at regular intervals throughout the day.
Maintain Proper Tank Conditions
Jaguar cichlids are very sensitive to the quality of their environment, so it’s important to make sure that your water parameters are up-to-par all the time and match their natural habitat as closely as possible.
Native to the relatively neutral and warm rivers in Central America, the wild Jaguars can tolerate 97-degree waters. Jaguar cichlids thrive best in 73 to 82-degree Fahrenheit water, with 75 to 77 degrees as ideal. Of course, that’s pushing it for your captive Jaguar.
The water should also have a hardness level of 10 to 15 dGH. Jaguars grow best in a water pH of 7.0 to 8.7. If you’re breeding your Jaguar cichlid pair, it’s best to raise the water temperature to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
You might be interested in: Do Jaguar Cichlids Have Teeth?
A Bigger Tank will Help
Jags are known for being aggressive and territorial towards other species. Although we said that a 125-gallon fish tank is sufficient for a Jaguar cichlid’s optimum growth, getting a bigger aquarium can help it grow faster.
A bigger tank will provide Jaguar cichlids with a bigger territory to swim around in. Jaguar cichlids are very active fish. If you want your Jaguar to be healthy, it needs exercise by swimming around in its aquarium.
I include sand substrate at the tank’s bottom and dry leaves on the surface to mimic its cloudy and murky natural habitat. I also add rocks, driftwood, caves, and other sturdy decorations around the tank’s perimeter.
Final Thoughts
Jaguar cichlids are some of the largest cichlid species you can ever get for an aquatic pet. Although they might be smaller than their relatives in the wild, your Jaguar cichlid can reach its maximum size if you feed it a well-balanced diet and provide the ideal water parameters.
More importantly, the larger the fish tank, the faster your Jaguar cichlid will grow and the healthier it will be.
We’re always open to suggestions, so if you have a brilliant idea that would make our care guide better, feel free to let us know!
