Starry Night Cichlid Care Guide (Paratilapia polleni)

September 10, 2025

The Starry Night Cichlid (Paratilapia polleni) is one of the most jaw-dropping freshwater fish you can keep — a deep, velvety black body sprinkled with shimmering blue-white “stars” that intensify as the fish matures. They’re a Madagascar native, which makes them rare in the hobby and a true centerpiece species. They’re also large, predatory, and territorial, so they’re not a beginner’s first cichlid — but for an aquarist ready for a 75–125+ gallon tropical aquarium, they reward you with a 10-inch living constellation that lives 10–15 years. At Tropical Treasures Wyo in Cheyenne we hand-pick young Polleni and grow them out for keepers who want a real showpiece tank.

Ready to add a piece of the night sky to your aquarium? Shop Starry Night Cichlids here — and read on for the full care, feeding, and stocking rundown.

Quick Facts

Scientific name: Paratilapia polleni
Common names: Starry Night Cichlid, Polleni Cichlid, Marakely
Native names: Marakely (local Madagascar name)
Origin and distribution: Madagascar (slow rivers and lakes)
Adult size: 10–12 inches (males larger)
Lifespan: 10–15 years
Temperament: Territorial, predatory, semi-aggressive to aggressive, often aggressive towards conspecifics
Care level: Intermediate to advanced
Minimum tank size: 75 gallons for a single adult, 125+ gallons for a breeding pair

Are Starry Night Cichlids Hard to Keep?

Water-wise they’re actually forgiving — hardy, adaptable, and not fussy about pH within reason. The main challenges are their large size, high bioload, and aggressive behavior. They need ample aquarium space, efficient filtration, and tank mates that can hold their own. They’re also a slow-growing species, which means you’ll often buy them at 2–3 inches and watch their distinctive spotting develop dramatically over the first 18–24 months. If you’re ready to commit to a long-lived large cichlid, they’re very rewarding.

Tank Size & Setup

Minimum tank size: 75 gallons for a single adult. A bonded breeding pair requires 125+ gallons with options for dividers, while a community of large cichlids should begin at 180 gallons.

Substrate

Use sand or fine smooth gravel. These fish dig and rearrange the substrate, especially during spawning conditioning, so choose a substrate that won’t scratch their delicate scales.

Aquascape

Construct a rock and driftwood layout with at least one defensible cave per fish. Stack rocks securely against the back glass to create clear territory boundaries. Live plants often get uprooted, so use hardy plants like anubias or java fern attached to driftwood. Medium lighting best showcases the iridescent star pattern — strong lighting isn’t necessary.

Filtration & Flow

Strong filtration is essential — this is a high-bioload predator. Use an oversized canister filter or sump rated well above the tank’s gallonage, along with mechanical pre-filter media cleaned weekly. Aim for 6–8 times turnover per hour. Effective filtration lets you feed protein-rich foods without harmful nitrate spikes.

Heating

Use a quality adjustable heater (or backup heater) set to a stable water temperature of 78–80°F (25.5–27°C). Mid-to-upper 70s is ideal to mimic their tropical native habitat.

Water Parameters

Parameter	Target Range
Temperature	75–82°F (24–28°C), similar to hot springs which can reach 40°C in some native ranges
pH	6.5–7.5
GH	6–15 dGH
KH	4–10 dKH
Ammonia	0 ppm
Nitrite	0 ppm
Nitrate	< 30 ppm

Always cycle the tank completely before stocking and treat tap water with a dechlorinator like Seachem Prime at every water change. Plan for 30–40% weekly water changes once they’re grown to maintain optimal water quality.

Diet & Feeding

Starry Nights are omnivores with a strong carnivorous preference. A varied, protein-forward diet encourages healthy growth and keeps their star pattern brilliant:

High-quality cichlid pellets as a daily staple
Frozen or thawed silversides, krill, mysis, and bloodworms 2–3 times weekly
Occasional earthworms or quality raw shrimp tails (rinsed) for adult fish
A spirulina-based pellet or blanched spinach once or twice a week for fiber and plant matter

Feed adults once or twice daily, only what they consume in 2–3 minutes. Avoid feeder fish — they often carry parasites and diseases and add no nutritional value over quality frozen foods.

Tank Mates

Choose similarly sized, robust fish that won’t back down but won’t overly bully the Starry Night Cichlid. Any fish small enough to fit in their mouth will likely be eaten.

Great tank mates

Oscars, Jack Dempseys, Green Terrors
Vieja and other medium-large Central American cichlids
Large catfish species such as Synodontis
Adult plecos including common, sailfin, and royal plecos
Silver dollars (only in tanks of 180+ gallons)

Avoid

Small or nano fish — tetras, rasboras, guppies, etc., are eaten
Dwarf shrimp and snails
Long-finned slow fish such as angelfish, fancy goldfish, and bettas
Most African Mbuna due to aggressive behavior and incompatible water parameters

Risky but possible

Other Paratilapia species — requires extra space and visual barriers due to aggression towards conspecifics
Very large peaceful cichlids (severums, festivums) — depends on individual temperament
Pair with a single tank-mate dither only in tanks 180 gallons and larger

Male vs. Female

Males grow larger, develop more elaborate dorsal and anal fins, and show brighter, denser star spots, especially during courtship. They also develop a nuchal hump as they mature, which females lack or have much smaller. Females are slightly smaller and rounder-bodied, with somewhat duller spotting outside of breeding. Sexing juveniles under 4 inches is unreliable — this is why many breeders sell them unsexed and let buyers grow out a small group.

Breeding and Reproduction

The Starry Night Cichlid is a bi-parental substrate spawner. A bonded pair will select a flat rock or cave, clean it thoroughly, and deposit hundreds of eggs. Both parents intensely guard the eggs and fry, often showing significant aggression towards other tank mates during spawning. Expect eggs to hatch in 3–4 days, with fry becoming free-swimming after about a week. Feed fry baby brine shrimp and finely crushed pellets. Pairs are easiest to form by growing out a group of 5–6 juveniles, allowing natural pairing.

Life Cycle and Maturity

Starry Night Cichlids reach maturity around 2–3 years, coinciding with the full development of their starry pattern and breeding behaviors. Their life cycle includes slow growth, long lifespan (10–15 years), and territorial maturity, which aquarists should consider when planning long-term care and tank setup.

Common Problems & Diseases

Hole-in-the-head (HITH): Linked to poor water parameters and nutrition. Prevent with strong filtration, low nitrates, and a vitamin-rich varied diet.
Ich: Less common in adults but can occur after stress or temperature fluctuations; treat at 82°F with quality ich medication.
Bloat: Usually caused by overfeeding or excessive dry foods — fast for 1–2 days, then resume feeding frozen meaty foods.
Aggression injuries: Torn dorsal and anal fins and scale loss from fights; remove aggressor or add visual barriers.
Internal parasites: More common when feeder fish are introduced; quarantine new arrivals for 2–3 weeks.

Tips for Long-Term Success

Buy a small group (5–6) of juveniles and grow them out to find a natural pair, then rehome the rest.
Plan filtration for 1.5–2x the tank’s gallonage — large cichlids produce substantial bioload.
Stick to a strict weekly water-change schedule. Skipped weeks rapidly lead to faded coloration and hole-in-the-head disease.
Use rockwork to create line-of-sight breaks to reduce aggression before adding tank mates.
Be patient with coloration — the star pattern peaks at 2–3 years of age.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big do Starry Night Cichlids get?
They reach 10–12 inches at maturity. Tank size should be planned based on adult size, not juvenile size.

Are Starry Night Cichlids aggressive?
Yes, they are territorial and predatory. They can be aggressive towards conspecifics and require similarly sized robust tank mates.

Are Starry Night Cichlids rare?
Yes, due to their limited distribution native to Madagascar and specialized care requirements, they are considered rare in the aquarium hobby.

What size tank does a Starry Night Cichlid need?
A minimum of 75 gallons for a single adult, 125+ gallons for a bonded pair, and 180+ gallons for a community of large cichlids.

How long do Starry Night Cichlids live?
They can live 10–15 years with proper care, making them one of the longer-lived freshwater cichlids.

Can I keep Starry Night Cichlids in a community tank?
Only with similarly sized and robust species that can handle their aggression. Anything small enough to fit in their mouth will be eaten.

Do Starry Night Cichlids eat plants?
They mostly ignore plants but will dig and uproot them. Use hardy attached plants like anubias or java fern.

Can Starry Night Cichlids live with Oscars?
Yes, in a well-established 180+ gallon tank with plenty of rockwork and visual barriers to reduce aggression.

What do Starry Night Cichlids eat?
They are omnivorous but lean carnivorous. Their diet includes daily cichlid pellets, frozen meaty foods 2–3 times weekly, and occasional vegetables.

How can I tell male from female?
Males develop larger body size, more elaborate dorsal and anal fins, a prominent nuchal hump, and brighter star spots. Reliable sexing usually requires 6–12 months of grow-out.

Shop Starry Night Cichlids at Tropical Treasures Wyo

We hand-select young Paratilapia polleni at our Cheyenne shop and grow them out so they ship strong, eating well, and starting to show their signature star pattern. Whether you’re building a large showpiece tank or focusing on Madagascar native species, we can help you stock it.

Shop Starry Night Cichlids · Browse all large cichlids

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Tropical Treasures Wyo
190 S College Drive, Suite D, Cheyenne, WY 82007
307-369-1118

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