Red tiger motaguense
Parachromis motaguensis
Also known as Motaguense, Motagua cichlid, False yellowjacket cichlid, Cichlasoma motaguense, Red Tiger Cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.0
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 55 gal
- 210 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Rivers of Guatemala and Honduras, including the Motagua River, in moderate to fast-flowing reaches with cover.
Overview
The red tiger motaguense is a large predator from Central America with a strong temper. It is best left to keepers with some experience.
Did you know
The red tiger motaguense is sometimes called the false yellowjacket. It is easily confused with the true yellowjacket cichlid, Parachromis friedrichsthalii.
Caring for the red tiger motaguense
A single adult red tiger motaguense needs at least 55 gal (210 L), with rockwork and driftwood. It grows fast, so plan for a spacious tank.
Keep the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed a varied predator diet of pellets and frozen foods, and skip live feeder fish.
Expect heavy territorial behavior, since it is among the more aggressive Central American cichlids. Keep it alone, or with only robust cichlids in a very large tank. Breeding it takes moderate effort.
Good to know
Parachromis motaguensis is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, described by Gunther in 1867. The red tiger strain shows a red-orange base broken by dark tiger barring. Some aquarium fish outgrow the usual adult size, and it can live over ten years. It also goes by Motagua cichlid and Cichlasoma motaguense.
In the wild
The red tiger motaguense lives in rivers of Guatemala and Honduras, including the Motagua River. It holds moderate to fast-flowing reaches with cover.
From published sources
Tank mates
Each fish here is named as a tank mate for the red tiger motaguense by at least two published care guides. These pairings assume a tank of 125 gallons (475 liters) or more, with rockwork that breaks up territories.
Sources: Seriously Fish, Aquatics Unlimited, Sims Tropical Fish.
Common questions
What size tank does a red tiger motaguense need?
A red tiger motaguense needs at least 55 gal (210 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a red tiger motaguense need?
A red tiger motaguense is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
What does a red tiger motaguense eat?
A red tiger motaguense eats a varied predator diet of pellets and frozen foods. Skip live feeder fish.
How big does a red tiger motaguense get?
An adult red tiger motaguense reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
What fish can live with the red tiger motaguense?
Published care guides name Jack Dempsey, Midas cichlid and trimac cichlid. These pairings assume a tank of 125 gallons (475 liters) or more, with rockwork that breaks up territories.
Related species
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Parachromis friedrichsthalii
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