Mayan cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

A single adult or pair needs a tank of at least 340 liters at 24 to 30 C and pH 7.0 to 8.5, and it accepts brackish water. Provide rockwork and expect digging. Feed a varied diet of pellets, frozen foods, and some vegetable matter. It is an aggressive, territorial fish best kept alone or with tough tankmates.

In the wild

The Mayan cichlid lives in Atlantic drainages from Mexico to Nicaragua. It occupies freshwater marshes, mangrove swamps, and brackish coastal lagoons and estuaries. It is strongly euryhaline and moves between fresh and salty water with ease. A tank with rockwork, and a little salt in the water, suits it.

Good to know

Mayaheros urophthalmus was described by Gunther in 1862 and reaches about 30 cm. It is marked by a large ocellated spot on the tail base and a row of vertical bars, and breeding fish flush red and orange. It tolerates salinity up to near full seawater, which has made it a successful invader in Florida.

Did you know

It breeds in both fresh and brackish water, and its salt tolerance lets it colonize coastal habitats closed to most other cichlids.

Related species

• 

  Basketmouth cichlid

  Caquetaia kraussii

  11.8 in (30 cm)79 gal (300 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)

• 

  Gold Saum

  Andinoacara rivulatus

  11.8 in (30 cm)75 gal (285 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Pearlscale Cichlid

  Herichthys carpintis

  11.8 in (30 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–79°F (24–26°C)

• 

  Texas Cichlid

  Herichthys cyanoguttatus

  11.8 in (30 cm)66 gal (250 L)68–90°F (20–32°C)

• 

  Zebra tilapia

  Heterotilapia buttikoferi

  11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
• Red tiger motaguense

  Parachromis motaguensis

  11.8 in (30 cm)100 gal (380 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)