Short Body Green Texas Cichlid Herichthys Carpintis - 10cm

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Overview:
The Short Body Green Texas Cichlid is a compact, high-impact variant of the classic Herichthys carpintis, known for its brilliant emerald-green pearling, bold personality, and eye-catching body shape. Selectively bred for a stockier, shorter profile, this morph brings all the beauty and aggression of the standard Green Texas into a more space-efficient form—perfect for display tanks and experienced cichlid keepers.

Origin:
Originally from northeastern Mexico, H. carpintis is found in rivers and lakes like the Rio Pánuco. The short body variant is a captive-bred morph, prized for its ornamental appeal and unique proportions.

Feeding:
Omnivorous. Thrives on a high-quality pellet-based diet, along with frozen foods like krill, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and vegetable matter such as spirulina flakes or blanched greens. A varied diet enhances both health and coloration.

Tank Mates:
Aggressive and territorial, especially when mature or breeding. Best kept with other robust Central or South American cichlids, large catfish, or solo in a species-specific setup. Not suitable for community tanks or delicate species.

Water Parameters:

• Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)

• pH: 6.8–8.0

• Hardness: Moderate to hard (8–20 dGH)

• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons (larger for adults or pairs)

• Needs plenty of space, rockwork, and territory boundaries

Behavior & Personality:

• Highly interactive with keepers—will often follow movement outside the tank

• Displays flaring, digging, and territorial behaviors

• Pairs form strong bonds and fiercely guard spawning sites

Special Notes:

• Short body morphs are purely ornamental—care is the same as standard form

• May be prone to overfeeding—watch diet to maintain healthy shape

• Best colors develop in dominant individuals with proper lighting and nutrition

• Excellent candidate for a show tank or breeding project

The Short Body Green Texas Cichlid is a bold, beautiful, and uniquely shaped addition to any serious cichlid keeper’s collection. With its intense coloration, interactive personality, and striking appearance, it’s sure to be a showstopper in any large, well-managed aquarium.

Above images for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.

Please Note: The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Swell shop, or available for collection from the shop. Species sold at our Swell store will differ from ones available to order to your door.

All livestock deliveries are subject to our full Delivery Terms & Conditions, please read before ordering.