Tuba Mesoamerican Cichlid Tomocichla Tuba 5cm

£50.00

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SKU: STF-TOMO-TUBA Category:

Description

Tomocichla tuba

Scientific Name: Tomocichla tuba

Common Names: Tuba Cichlid, Tuba Mesoamerican Cichlid

Overview
The Tomocichla tuba is a striking and relatively rare species of cichlid native to the freshwater rivers and lakes of Central America, particularly found in the countries of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Known for its unique body shape and vivid coloration, the Tuba Cichlid is a stunning addition to aquariums that can house more robust and larger fish. This species exhibits beautiful yellow, orange, and red hues on its body, with males often being more colorful than females. Tomocichla tuba can be territorial, especially during breeding, but they are an excellent choice for experienced aquarists who enjoy keeping cichlids with a bit more personality and aggression.

Key Information
Size: 8–10 inches (20–25 cm)
Lifespan: 6–10 years
Temperament: Semi-aggressive, territorial during breeding
Diet: Omnivore
Swimming Level: Middle to bottom level

Habitat & Tank Setup
Tank Size: Minimum 55 gallons for a single fish, larger for a pair or group
Group Size: Best kept as a pair or alone due to territoriality
Substrate: Fine gravel or sand
Decor: Rocks, driftwood, and caves for hiding and territory marking
Plants: Hardy plants such as Java Fern, Anubias, or Amazon Sword
Lighting: Moderate to bright
Filtration: High-quality filtration with moderate to strong water movement

Water Parameters
Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 7.0–8.0
Hardness: Moderately hard (8–15 dGH)
Water Quality: Clean, well-oxygenated water with regular water changes

Feeding
Diet Type: Omnivore
Suitable Foods:
High-quality pellets or flakes
Frozen or live foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, earthworms)
Vegetables such as zucchini, spinach, and peas
Feeding Frequency: 1–2 times per day, in moderate portions

Tankmates
Compatible With:
Larger, semi-aggressive fish like other Central American cichlids
Peaceful species that are large enough to coexist with them
Other fish that are not small enough to be seen as prey
Avoid:
Small or delicate species that might be outcompeted for food or harassed
Aggressive species that could cause conflicts

Care Notes
Breeding: Tomocichla tuba is an egg-laying cichlid that forms monogamous pairs. They can be very territorial during breeding, often defending their nesting site aggressively. Providing plenty of hiding spots and space is essential during the breeding season.
Temperament: These cichlids can be aggressive, especially when establishing territories or during breeding. A well-planted tank with many hiding places will help reduce aggression.
Water Quality: Keeping the water clean and stable is crucial. Frequent water changes are necessary to maintain optimal health.
Social Nature: Tomocichla tuba does best in tanks where it is the dominant fish, or when kept with similarly robust species. Males can be quite dominant and territorial, especially when breeding.

Fun Fact
The Tuba Cichlid gets its name from the unique “tuba” shape of its mouth, which is somewhat funnel-shaped, a feature it shares with several other Central American cichlids. This cichlid is an excellent choice for advanced hobbyists who appreciate cichlids with more complex behavior and beautiful coloration, but they require a larger aquarium and well-maintained water conditions to thrive.

STANDARD DELIVERY UK MAINLAND ONLY – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Overnight courier service by DX guaranteed next day delivery pre 1pm. We will contact you via email within 24 hours of purchase with your confirmed delivery date.: £20.00

 

SATURDAY STANDARD DELIVERY UK MAINLAND ONLY –  Overnight courier service by DX guaranteed next day delivery pre 1pm. We will contact you via email within 24 hours of purchase with your confirmed delivery date.: £30.00

 

INSURED DELIVERY UK MAINLAND ONLY –Wednesday,Thursday, Friday. Overnight courier service by DX guaranteed next day delivery pre 1pm. Insurance covers Damage, Delay, Loss or temperature issues. Instant replacement shipped the next day upon receipt of supporting photographs.: £30.00

 

SATURDAY INSURED DELIVERY UK MAINLAND ONLY –Overnight courier service by DX guaranteed next day delivery pre 1pm. Insurance covers Damage, Delay, Loss or temperature issues. Instant replacement shipped the next day upon receipt of supporting photographs.: £40.00

 

ADDITIONS TO AN EXISTING ORDER – If you would like to add more items to an existing order for delivery, please select this option. All additions must be made 24 hours before your existing delivery date.: Free

 

AQUARIUM DELIVERY – All Sims Aquariums and Other Branded Aquariums with Cabinets are Free for a curb-side delivery. We will contact you within 24 hours of purchase to arrange a convenient delivery date.: Free

 

PRE FORMED PONDS – All Pre Formed Ponds are Free for a curb-side delivery. We will contact you within 24 hours of purchase to arrange a convenient delivery date.: Free

 

GIFT CARDS – These will be delivered electronically within 24 hours of receipt of payment, please remember that if you have any other items that require shipping, you must select either Standard or Insured delivery.

 

 

 

D.O.A DELIVERY POLICY UPDATED 01/04/2026

Should You Have Any Questions Regarding Our Policies Or Procedures Please Don’t Hesitate to Contact Us. All Emails Will Be Responded To Within 24 Hours.

We Do Not Have UK Retail Stores That Are Open to The Public. Sims Tropical Fish Operates And Manages The Logistics of All Aquatic Species in The UK For Trade And Retail Customers.

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Our Website Is Not A Reflection Of Current UK Wide Distribution Centre Stock. All Our Livestock Listed On The Website Is Available To Order For Delivery Within 14 Days Of Purchase. 

 

For Our Rarer Species, We Are Effectively Importing The Livestock On Your Behalf As A Pre Order. We Currently Deliver 99% Of Trade Orders On The Selected Delivery Date and 95% Of Retail 

 

Orders On The Selected Delivery Date.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE DOA DELIVERY POLICY BEFORE YOU PURCHASE. AS MAKING A PAYMENT WILL BE AN AGREEMENT TO ACCEPTING THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. 

  1. With All Delivery Options You Will Receive A Delivery Date Confirmation Via Email Within 24 Hours Of Purchase.
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We Do Not Refund Dead On Arrival Fish. We Always Replace Them In The Box With Your Next Order Free Of Charge. Should You Have Any Unlikely Issues With Your Delivery We Will Always Do Our Very Best To Resolve The Problem Immediately.

Please Take The Time To Photograph Or Video Your Delivery And The Bags As They Come Out Of The Box As Your Insurance Policy. 

Fish That Are Delivered Dead On Arrival On The Allocated Delivery Date Will Be Replaced By Us And Then Sent Out In The Box With Your Next Order Free Of Charge, Upon Receipt Of Supporting Photographs. For Successful DOA Claims, Images Of The Livestock In The Delivery Packaging Are To Be Received By Us Via Email Only, On The Day Of Delivery At retail@simstropicalfish.co.uk.

Should You Be Unfortunate Enough To Experience Any Very Unlikely Issues, Please Contact Us Immediately On:

Retail Customer Orders 07801 323641 retail@simstropicalfish.co.uk

 

We Will Always Resolve Any Problems.

Through 2019 To 2025 Our Couriers Have Delivered Over 1 Millions Boxes Of Live Fish To Our Retail and Trade Customers At A Right First Time Rate Of Over 99.9%.


STANDARD DELIVERY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY 

Standard Delivery Is £20 For All Livestock Orders & There Is No Minimum Order Value. Selecting Your Fish For Standard Delivery Is A Choice Against Selecting The Insured Delivery Service And Is A Formal Agreement To Accepting The The Terms And Conditions Stated By This Policy. 

We deliver our standard service to retail customers through our livestock licensed courier DX on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday every week.

Our Service Level Agreement With The Courier Is That The Fish Will Be Collected From Us In The Evening Prior To Your Delivery Date And Delivered The Next Day Before 1pm In The Condition And Temperature That They Were Collected In. 

All Your Tracking Information Will Be Sent To You Directly By The Courier Dx The Evening Before Your Delivery Date When Your Box Is Collected From The Supplier. You Will Also Receive A Text Message From The Courier Around 9am On Your Delivery Day With Your Time Slot. You Must Ensure Someone Is At The Delivery Address On Your Delivery Date To Receive The Livestock.

INSURED STANDARD DELIVERY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Insured Delivery Is £30 For All Livestock Orders & There Is No Minimum Order Value. We Are Also Able To Offer A Fully Insured Standard Delivery Service Where Should You Experience Any Problems, Including Issues Relating To Temperature, Damage, Loss Or Delay By The Courier, Sims Tropical Fish Will Step In And Resend An Instant Replacement Fish For Delivery The Following Day, Rather Than With Your Next Order, Upon Receipt Of Supporting Photographs.

Instant Replacement Livestock Can Be Delivered On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Every Week.

STANDARD DELIVERY SATURDAY

Standard Delivery On a Saturday Is £30 For All Livestock Orders & There Is No Minimum Order Value. Please Ensure That When You Are Selecting Your Delivery Date As A Saturday, That You Are Selecting A Saturday Delivery Cost At The Checkout. Selecting Your Fish For Standard Delivery Is A Choice Against Selecting The Insured Delivery Service And Is A Formal Agreement To Accepting The The Terms And Conditions Stated By This Policy. 

We Deliver Our Standard Service To Retail Customers Through Our Livestock Licensed Courier DX On A Wednesday, Thursday, Friday And Saturday Every Week.

Our Service Level Agreement With The Courier Is That The Fish Will Be Collected From Us In The Evening Prior To Your Delivery Date And Delivered The Next Day Before 1pm In The Condition And Temperature That They Were Collected In. 

All Your Tracking Information Will Be Sent To You Directly By The Courier Dx The Evening Before Your Delivery Date When Your Box Is Collected From The Supplier. You Will Also Receive A Text Message From The Courier Around 9am On Your Delivery Day With Your Time Slot. You Must Ensure Someone Is At The Delivery Address On Your Delivery Date To Receive The Livestock.

INSURED STANDARD DELIVERY SATURDAY

Insured Delivery On A Saturday Is £40 For All Livestock Orders & There Is No Minimum Order Value. We Are Also Able To Offer A Fully Insured Standard Delivery Service Where Should You Experience Any Problems, Including Issues Relating To Temperature, Damage, Loss Or Delay By The Courier, Sims Tropical Fish Will Step In And Resend An Instant Replacement Fish For Delivery The Following Delivery Day, Rather Than With Your Next Order, Upon Receipt Of Supporting Photographs.

Instant Replacement Livestock Can Be Delivered On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday And Saturday Every Week.