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Cichlasoma salvini is one the few fish left in what was once this giant genus of fish. This very attractive medium sized cichlid lives in S. Mexico, Honduras, and Belize, where it is an open water river swimmer and hunter. Salvini like water 73-79 degrees, neutral pH and a hardness of 8-15. In thw wild it eats aquatic invertebrates and small fish, up to the size that will fit in its mouth. They are roughly bullet-shaped and males get 6 inches long, the females 4.5. Males have more vivid color, but females have a black spot below their opeculum, and a black spot on the dorsal fin. The ground color is usally yellow-gold , and they have at least one and usually two zig-zag black stripes running the length of their bodies. They like plants.

Salvini are good tank mates for other medium-aggressive cichlids in at least a 30 gallon tank. It can be planted but they also need open swimming space. They prefer sand substrates. In captivity they will eat most anything, being omnivorous but tending more towards the carnivore side. They can be maintained on pellets, blood worms, shrimp and beefheart. They are fairly easily to breed. They will clean off several breeding spots and they lay up to 500 eggs. The males and females are good parents to the eggs and fry. It is best to get a pair from fry that have grown up together. Introducing a pair may work or if not interested, they may fight.

See Images of Salvini Cichlids for pictures.