Banded Jewel Cichlid

Banded Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis elongatus)

Photo courtesy of DAR

Description:

  • Fish with bronze scales and five dark bands running down the side (Froese & Pauly, 2017)
  • Bands not obvious on large males (Froese & Pauly, 2017)
  • Magenta spot on gill cover (Froese & Pauly, 2017)

Habitat:

  • Freshwater fish typically found in shallow lakes and streams (Nico, 2021)

Impacts & Concern:

  • Causes decline of indigenous fish species due to reduction in food sources and alteration of habitat (USFWS, 2018)
  • Aggressive predator that feeds on small fish, insects, and shrimps (USFWS, 2018)

Introduction:

  • Most likely introduced to Hawaiʻi through aquarium release (USFWS, 2018)
  • First observed on Oʻahu in 1990 and is considered established (Nico, 2021)

Distribution in Hawaii:

Reported distribution of Hemichromis elongatus in the Main Hawaiian Islands

  • Kauai: Not documented
  • Oʻahu: Present (Nico, 2021)
  • Molokai: Not documented
  • Lanai: Not documented
  • Maui: Not documented
  • Big Island: Not documented

References:

  • Nico, L. (2021) Hemichromis elongatus (Guichenot in Duméril, 1861): U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=456
  • Froese, R., Pauly, D. (2017) Hemichromis elongatus (Guichenot, 1861). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Hemichromis-elongatus.html.
  • USFWS. (2018). Banded Jewel Cichlid Ecological Risk Screening Summary. US Fish and Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ans/erss/uncertainrisk/ERSS-Hemichromis-elongatus-FINAL-August2018.pdf.