Description
Chocolate Cichlid – Gentle Giant with Rich, Velvety Hues
The Chocolate Cichlid (Hypselecara temporalis) is a large, peaceful South American cichlid known for its calm demeanor and beautiful, earthy coloration. Its name comes from its rich chocolate-brown body, which can deepen in color with mood or breeding condition, often accented by iridescent greens, reds, and subtle spotting.
Native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, the Chocolate Cichlid is prized for its intelligent and mellow personality, making it a great centerpiece for spacious community or cichlid tanks. Despite its impressive size, it is one of the most peaceful large cichlids available.
Key Features:
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Coloration: Deep brown base with hints of red, green, and subtle iridescence
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Temperament: Docile and intelligent—generally peaceful even with smaller tank mates
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Size: Can reach up to 10–12 inches
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Tank Requirements: Minimum 75 gallons with soft substrate, driftwood, and moderate flow
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Diet: Omnivorous—enjoys pellets, frozen/live foods, and some vegetable matter
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Compatibility: Suitable with other peaceful or semi-aggressive cichlids and larger community fish
The Chocolate Cichlid is an ideal choice for aquarists seeking a majestic, peaceful, and interactive fish—offering both beauty and tranquility in a large, impressive package.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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