The Wolf Cichlid, also known as the Dovii Cichlid, is very intelligent and has so much personality that its territory usually extends beyond the tank. They will investigate any goings on in the room and can bond with their owners on a level that the smaller cichlids don't. A beautiful deep bodied muscular fish, the mature male has a rich golden yellow to silvery background speckled with blue, black, and purple. It has green and red on the head and the base of the dorsal fin, with blue-green fins and tail. The females are almost entirely yellow. Their big teeth that show this is a veracious predator that needs to be respected. Remember this when they have fry and you are thinking about putting your hand in the tank!

Very easy to keep, the Wolf Cichlid is a great beginner fish for the aquarist who wants a large water pet. They are not demanding and can take a wide range of pH, though it must be kept stable. This is a big cichlid that requires a lot of free swimming space. They need lots of rocks, bog wood and tunnels to dig under with sandy or fine gravel substrate. Put large heavy rocks on the glass, not on the substrate because they dig under everything and falling rocks can crack your glass aquarium and scratch your acrylic tank. Glue desired rock formations together or your Wolf Cichlid will have other plans for your perfectly placed rock tower, just leave some rocks and stuff for them to move. These larger cichlids will actually enjoy "toys" like ping pong balls. Though they grow large, they are a rewarding pet as long as you are able to care for their needs. A tank that is 120 gallons or more is needed for their long term care. They can live well over 30 years with proper care.