TankBud

Redhead cichlid

Vieja melanurus

Also known as Vieja synspilum, Vieja synspila, Vieja melanura, Firehead cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Redhead cichlid (Vieja melanurus)
H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–82°F
25–28°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
14.6 in
37 cm
Minimum tank
132 gal
500 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Mexico, Belize, Guatemala

Overview

The redhead cichlid is a very large Central American cichlid with a big personality and a strong territorial streak. It needs a lot of space and suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The redhead cichlid's orange to pinkish-red head and forehead hump develop as the fish matures. That bold coloring brightens further at spawning time, and it explains both its common name and its popularity.

Caring for the redhead cichlid

Plan on at least 132 gal (500 L) for a redhead cichlid, and a much larger tank for a group of adults. Expect plenty of digging, so use a sandy floor with large rounded rocks and sturdy wood. Build heavy, stable rockwork into clear territories that will not collapse when the fish digs. Leave out delicate decor, and keep any planting minimal and tough, since rooted plants are usually dug up.

Keep the water neutral to hard, at 77 to 82°F (25 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. The redhead cichlid is a mostly herbivorous omnivore. Feed a cichlid pellet with good vegetable content, plus occasional frozen and fresh foods.

Redhead cichlids are aggressive, but you can keep a single fish, a pair or a group. A group needs a very large tank, where the aggression spreads among several fish and no one fish is targeted. Choose tank mates with caution, sticking to large, robust cichlids and catfish that can stand up to it. Never add small or timid fish.

It is a substrate spawner, and a pair cleans a flat surface, then guards its eggs and fry together. Males reach around 35 to 37 cm and develop a pronounced nuchal hump on the forehead. Reaching full breeding size takes a large tank and time.

Good to know

Vieja melanurus is a member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae, and one of the larger Central American cichlids. It is often sold under the older name synspilum, and it also goes by firehead cichlid. Mature fish have a body washed in green, blue and gold, set off by a dark mark near the tail.

In the wild

The redhead cichlid comes from the Atlantic slope of southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, including the Usumacinta basin. It lives in warm rivers, lakes and lagoons, where the water is neutral to hard.

Common questions

What size tank does a redhead cichlid need?

A redhead cichlid needs at least 132 gal (500 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a redhead cichlid need?

A redhead cichlid is comfortable at 77–82°F (25–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a redhead cichlid eat?

A redhead cichlid is a mostly herbivorous omnivore. Feed it a cichlid pellet with good vegetable content, plus occasional frozen and fresh foods.

How big does a redhead cichlid get?

An adult redhead cichlid reaches about 14.6 in (37 cm).

How can you tell a male redhead cichlid from a female?

Males develop a pronounced nuchal hump on the forehead, and they reach around 35 to 37 cm.

How does a redhead cichlid breed?

Redhead cichlids are substrate spawners. A pair cleans a flat surface and guards its eggs and fry together, and reaching full breeding size takes a large tank and time.

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