A Wonderful Aquarium Fish Native to Guatemala that can Spice up Your Fish Tank
When you return home from your vacation to Coban, Guatemala and the beautiful Verapaces, one thing you might consider is heading to your local fish supply store to look into purchasing a beautiful fish that is native to Guatemala.
If you already have a freshwater fish tank setup in your home, Thorichthys pasionis is a beautiful cichlid that is native to the lowlands of Central America. This fish is also known by a few other names, such as the yellow meeki.
In 1961, just north of Coban and Alta Verapaz, this cichlid was collected from a river in Sayaxche (you would likely cross this very same river if you were to travel from Coban up into the Peten!), and then one year later first defined. It has not been until recently, however, that this magnificent fish has become popular among the glass or acrylic aquarium hobbyist.
The coloration of this fish is simply stunning - a bright yellow/green characterizes the body of the yellow meeki, and the fish is often marked with darker grey stripes. A brilliant blue is present on its fins, and is responsible for a strikingly attractive contrast.
In Guatemala, this magnificent fish is usually found in water bodies with muddy bottoms and very low visibility, such as slow flowing rivers and lagoons. As any traveler to Coban and the Verapaces might know, these conditions are easily found in Guatemala's Cornucopia of Beauty and Wonder!
If, after your Guatemalan vacation and visit to Coban and the Verapaces, you should choose to remember your time in Guatemala by purchasing a T. pasionis for your fish aquarium at home, here are some tips:
The water chemistry that T. pasionis is commonly found in is alkaline. It will typically have a pH between 7.5 and 8.5.
Water temperatures for this type of cichlid should fall into the 77 to 86 degree Fahrenheit range - you might need to use an aquarium heater or an aquarium chiller to regulate the temperature.
The yellow meeki is used to high density communities, so don't be afraid to include other types of cichlids and even some non-cichlids in the fish tank. Always ask an expert for advice when setting up your aquarium and adding fish.
T. pasionis cichlids can grow up to roughly six inches (males) or 4 inches (females) in a properly set up fish tank. The females often display a less bright coloration.
The yellow meeki should be kept in a minimum of a 55 gallon tank and should be kept in groups of 8 or more. While not too particular about its surroundings, this is definitely not a fish to keep in biorbs.
This cichlid prefers and thrives upon live foods (krill is suggested), though it will eat most anything that it is fed. Generally speaking, this Guatemalan native is a wonderfully easy fish to maintain in your fish tank.
Water hardness can fluctuate depending on the area in which it's found. In the case of a home aquarium setup, a reverse osmosis system can help filter out all heavy metals, phosphates and chlorine from tap water to obtain pure water.
