Silver maskaheros
Maskaheros argenteus
Also known as Vieja argentea, White cichlid, Silver cichlid, Platinum cichlid
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–84°F (24–29°C)
- pH
- 7.0–8.2
- Adult size
- 10.6 in (27 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 132 gal (500 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Usumacinta lowlands, Mexico and Guatemala
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
A large white-metal cichlid for a big Mexican biotope tank, and a genuine showpiece when a pair comes into breeding dress and turns porcelain with black trim. It needs volume above all else, plus stone and wood to break the floor into territories. Keep a pair, or a single fish, with tankmates its own size. Feed a diet with real vegetable content alongside pellets and frozen foods.
In the wild
Maskaheros argenteus lives in the clear karst rivers of the Usumacinta lowlands across Mexico and Guatemala, in warm water that runs neutral to hard. Keep it at 24 to 29 degrees Celsius and pH 7.0 to 8.2, in a tank whose footprint suits a 27 centimeter cichlid.
Good to know
Maskaheros argenteus reaches about 27 centimeters, platinum with dark flecking. The genus was erected in 2015 and is named for the dark facial mask its members carry. It is a substrate spawner with strong biparental care, and breeding pairs change color dramatically rather than subtly.
Did you know
It breeds in cenote-fed rivers over white limestone; the fish dressed to match the geology.
Common questions
What size tank does a Silver maskaheros need?
A Silver maskaheros needs at least 132 gal (500 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Silver maskaheros need?
Silver maskaheros are comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
How big do Silver maskaheros get?
An adult Silver maskaheros reaches about 10.6 in (27 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Silver maskaheros?
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