Red Terror Cichlid

The red terror is a large cichlid from the Pacific coast of Ecuador and northern Peru. Its most distinctive features are the bold black vertical bars on an orange-red background and the turquoise reflections on its scales. The colors change with age, sex and mood; females ready to breed in particular stand out with the sharp contrast of bright red and black.

Long referred to in genera such as Cichlasoma and Nandopsis, the species is now placed in its own genus, Mesoheros. True to its name, it is very aggressive, and males reach 30 cm. It comes from the same region as the green terror but is larger and tougher.

It lives in rivers draining into the Pacific, above all the Guayas basin of Ecuador, and in the lakes and swamps connected to them. Along stony, root-lined and vegetated shores it feeds on small fish, crustaceans and insects.

• Volume: At least 450 liters and 150–180 cm of length for a single adult; 600 liters or more for a pair.
• Decor: Large, sturdy stones and roots; obstacles that break up lines of sight. Plants are not practical.
• Equipment: A strong canister filter or sump, a protected heater and a heavy lid.
• Water: Moderately hard, neutral to slightly alkaline water; 24–27°C is ideal.
• Maintenance: A 30–50% water change every week.

An omnivore leaning toward meaty foods. Use a large cichlid granule as the staple; vary the diet with frozen shrimp, mysis, mussels and vegetables. One meal a day is enough for adults.

Extremely territorial; it considers the whole tank its own territory and attacks even fish of its own size. It may attack hands. Even fish raised together from a young age can seriously injure each other as they mature.

Good companions: It is best kept alone. In a very large tank, large and robust plecos and Central American cichlids as big and tough as itself; the outcome depends on the individual.

Avoid: Community fish, shrimp, snails, calm South American cichlids, plants.

Keeping it alone is the safest option. To get a pair, juveniles are raised together; because the size difference between male and female is large, a perforated divider should be used when introducing mature fish.

The pair lays hundreds of eggs on a cleaned stone. During this period the female is eye-catching in her red-black breeding coloration. The larvae are moved into dug-out pits, and both parents guard the fry very fiercely. The fry are fed brine shrimp nauplii.

• Hole-in-the-head disease (HLLE): In poor water quality.
• Fight injuries: Especially while introducing a pair.
• Digestive problems: With overfeeding.

The male is noticeably larger, may develop a forehead hump and has long, pointed fins. The female is smaller and takes on a brighter red-black coloration during breeding. A reliable distinction is made by the papilla.