Texas cichlid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Texas cichlid |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus), also called the Rio Grande cichlid, is a freshwater fish. It belongs to the cichlid family. This fish is special because it's the only cichlid that naturally lives in the United States. You can find it in the lower Rio Grande area in Texas, especially near Brownsville, and in northeastern Mexico.
Texas cichlids can grow to be over 33 cm (13 in) long. They are easy to spot because of their unique cream and turquoise spots. Adult male cichlids also grow a bump on their head, called a nuchal hump. These fish like water temperatures between 20 and 28 °C (68 and 82 °F). Quick changes in temperature can harm them.
Contents
About the Texas Cichlid
The Texas cichlid was once part of a different group of fish called Cichlasoma. But scientists later decided that group should only include cichlids from South America. So, the Texas cichlid was moved to the Herichthys group. Fish in this group have a special look. They have short vertical bars and black spots on their sides. When they are ready to have babies, the top part of their head and front body turns a light grayish color.
Reproduction and Parental Care
Texas cichlids have interesting ways of having and raising their babies. They stay with one partner for a long time and take care of their young.
Mating Pairs
Texas cichlids are known for being monogamous, meaning they have one partner. A mating pair usually has a larger male and a smaller female. These pairs travel long distances to find a good spot to lay eggs. They do this between March and August. They also bravely protect their nesting areas from other cichlids.
Spawning Sites
Before laying eggs, both parents choose a spot, usually rocks in shallow water (less than 30 cm deep). They clean the surface by nipping at it. Once the spot is clean and ready, the female lays her eggs.
Egg Stage
The female lays 1 to 5 eggs at a time. Then, the male releases fluid onto the eggs to fertilize them. This process repeats until about 2000 eggs are laid. During this time, both parents take turns caring for the eggs. The male often patrols the area to keep it safe. The female spends more time fanning the eggs with her fins. This helps keep the eggs clean and gets them fresh water. Sometimes, the female also nips at the eggs. After about a week, the eggs hatch into tiny fish called "wrigglers." Wrigglers have a yolk sac for food, which they absorb. Then, they become free-swimming "fry."
After Hatching
The fry stay together in a small group. They slowly move around their territory with their parents in the middle. Both parents work together to protect their young from other fish. The female is often more aggressive and chases away intruders faster than the male. It's rare for both parents to leave their young. They usually stay close, especially when the fry are swimming freely.
What They Eat
The Texas cichlid eats many different things. It's an omnivore, meaning it eats both plants and animals. They often eat plants, insects, and even smaller fish or fish eggs. Sometimes, they act like "opportunistic carnivores." This means they will eat small animals like frogs or water snakes if they get the chance. The cichlid is a careful hunter. It uses its camouflage (its skin colors) to sneak up on its prey.
Texas Cichlids as an Invasive Species
The Texas cichlid has qualities that help it spread to new places where it doesn't naturally belong. This makes it an invasive species. These fish are not bothered by strong waves or pollution. They can also handle salty water very well. This high salt tolerance helps them get into new areas that other fish can't.
When Texas cichlids invade, they can mess up the natural food web. Their diet can change depending on what other fish are around. They are also very aggressive, whether they are protecting their territory or not. This aggression can stop native fish from growing and having babies. They can also force other fish into open areas, making them easier targets for predators. Texas cichlids can even help other fish invade new places. This has happened in Florida and the San Antonio River. Scientists are still studying how much impact these fish have on the environment.
In Florida
In Florida, Texas cichlids have mostly spread in man-made canals. No one is sure how they first got to Florida. Some people think they were brought from Texas in 1941 by a person. Others believe they escaped from fish farms during floods.
In Louisiana
In Louisiana, Texas cichlids have slowly taken over the waters around New Orleans. They can handle quite a bit of salt in the water (up to 8 parts per thousand). This might be because they have bred with another type of cichlid, Herichthys carpintis. This mix makes them perfect for the slightly salty (brackish) water in southern Louisiana. It's thought that these fish got into New Orleans in 1989 when people released them from aquariums in Jefferson Parish.
Because they have a short mating cycle, they quickly spread through the canal system and into Lake Pontchartrain. Pump stations and the lake itself helped them spread to other canals. Texas cichlids have been in the New Orleans area for at least 20 years. The first time one was officially caught in New Orleans was in 1996. By 1998, 23 were caught in one canal. Between 2006 and 2007, their numbers grew a lot in places like Pontchartrain Lagoon and Bayou Metairie.
Scientists are still trying to understand the full effect of these invasive fish. Studies show they have spread into Bayou St. John and City Park. They act aggressively towards native fish like Largemouth bass, Western mosquitofish, sailfin mollies, and blue crabs. This aggression can include tail beating and mouth wrestling. They also seem to cause problems for sheepshead minnows trying to reproduce.
Texas cichlids were not much affected by hurricanes like Katrina and Rita. This is because they can handle salty water so well. In fact, these hurricanes actually helped them spread more. When City Park flooded during Katrina, it helped the cichlids move into new areas.
In Bayou St. John, the cichlids are a threat to native species. They make it harder for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to bring back the natural fish population. Because they compete for shallow mating spots, they reduce the chances of the bayou's diverse fish population recovering. They have already caused some smaller fish, like killifish and sheepshead minnows, to disappear from this bayou. If the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries didn't regularly restock some mid-sized fish, the cichlids might have gotten rid of them too.
Because of this problem, there's even a competition at the City Park Big Bass Fishing Rodeo & Fishtival to catch the most cichlids. A fisherman named Joe Adams says, "They will eat just about anything...I know one guy who catches them with French fries...pieces of a hot dog and pieces of canned corn." Even with these efforts, it's very hard to get rid of these fish from New Orleans' waters because they reproduce so quickly.
As a Sportfish and Foodfish
Texas cichlids have been put into the wild on purpose or by accident in the southern United States, from Texas to Florida. They do well in these areas where the water rarely gets colder than 9 °C (48 °F). People often catch them by chance when they are fishing for sunfish and other panfish. Most anglers outside of South and Central Texas don't know what these fish are, so they release them. However, if caught outside their natural home, these fish are considered invasive and should be removed.
In South Texas, they are called "Rio Grande Perch." In Northern Mexico, they are known as "Mojarra de Norte." In Lake Guerrero, which is famous for its largemouth bass fishing, local people think the Texas cichlid is the best-tasting fish in the lake. They taste similar to tilapia, which are cichlids from Africa. People catch them with light fishing gear and small hooks (size #4 to #8), like what you would use for other panfish. Live crickets are great bait, but they will bite many different kinds of bait. They fight like bluegill sunfish, swimming in tight circles and then darting away. Adult fish in the wild are usually 12-15 cm (5-6 in) long and weigh about 0.45 kg (1 pound). It's not uncommon to catch ones that weigh 0.9 kg (2 pounds).
As an Aquarium Fish
The Texas cichlid is a common fish found in pet stores for aquariums. It became quite popular in the 1980s among fish lovers because of its shiny blue and green colors.
The "green Texas cichlid" you might see in pet stores is actually a different species called Herichthys carpintis. This fish does not naturally live in Texas. It gets its common name because it looks similar to the Texas cichlid. The "red Texas" cichlid is also not a true Texas cichlid. It's a mix of different types of Herichthys and Amphilophus fish.
See also
In Spanish: Mojarra del norte para niños
