firemouth

fish

Also known as: Cichlasoma meeki

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

The firemouth is a small cichlid fish, scientifically known as Cichlasoma meeki. It is characterized by its fiery red belly and mouth, and a metallic green blotch on its gill cover.1

Cichlids, the family to which the firemouth belongs, are a diverse group of primarily freshwater fish found in tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. Many cichlid species are popular in aquariums due to their complex behaviors, including intricate mating and breeding rituals. Some cichlids are known as mouthbreeders, carrying their eggs in their mouths until they hatch. The firemouth is one of the well-known aquarium cichlids.2

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cichlid
…popular aquarium cichlids are the firemouth (Cichlasoma meeki), a fish with bright red in its mouth and on its throat and chest; the Jack Dempsey (C. biocellatum), a rather large dark fish spotted with blue-green; the oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), an attractive fish with an orange-ringed black spot on its tail…
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…popular aquarium cichlids are the firemouth (Cichlasoma meeki), a fish with bright red in its mouth and on its throat and chest; the Jack Dempsey (C. biocellatum), a rather large dark fish spotted with blue-green; the oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), an attractive fish with an orange-ringed black spot on its tail…
Read More