TankBud

Silver maskaheros

Maskaheros argenteus

Also known as Vieja argentea, White cichlid, Silver cichlid, Platinum cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Silver maskaheros (Maskaheros argenteus)
(c) Pardee Ave., some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

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
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Usumacinta lowlands, Mexico and Guatemala

Overview

The silver maskaheros is a large, silver-white cichlid for a big Mexican biotope tank. It is best kept by someone with some experience.

Did you know

The silver maskaheros breeds in cenote-fed rivers over white limestone. Its pale coloring matches the geology.

Caring for the silver maskaheros

Give the silver maskaheros at least 132 gal (500 L), since it needs volume above all. Pick a tank whose footprint suits a fish this size, and use stone and wood to break the floor into territories.

Keep the water neutral to hard, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Feed a diet with real vegetable content alongside pellets and frozen foods.

The silver maskaheros is aggressive, so keep a pair or a single fish with tank mates its own size. It is a substrate spawner, and both parents give the brood strong care. Breeding pairs change color dramatically, turning porcelain with black trim. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The silver maskaheros, Maskaheros argenteus, is platinum with dark flecking. Its genus was erected in 2015 and is named for the dark facial mask its members carry. It is also known as Vieja argentea and as the white, silver or platinum cichlid.

In the wild

The silver maskaheros lives in the clear karst rivers of the Usumacinta lowlands, across Mexico and Guatemala. The water there is warm and runs neutral to hard.

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 does a silver maskaheros need?

A silver maskaheros is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does a silver maskaheros eat?

A silver maskaheros eats a diet with real vegetable content, alongside pellets and frozen foods.

How big does a silver maskaheros get?

An adult silver maskaheros reaches about 10.6 in (27 cm).

How does a silver maskaheros breed?

The silver maskaheros is a substrate spawner, and both parents give the brood strong care. Breeding pairs turn porcelain with black trim, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

Related species