All fish / Cichlidae

Mayan cichlid

Mayaheros urophthalmus

Also known as mayan cichlid, mayan, false red terror, orange mayan cichlid, cichlasoma urophthalmus, nandopsis urophthalmus, mayaheros urophthalmum, eye-tail cichlid, ウロフタルムス, 马雅丽鱼, 眼斑丽鱼

A sturdy Central American cichlid with an olive to greenish body, six or seven dark vertical bars and a black eyespot ringed in blue on the tail base, while breeding adults show bright red throats and bellies. It is kept for its strong colours, bold personality and remarkable toughness, as it handles a wide range of water conditions including brackish water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

22 to 30 °C

pH

7 to 8.5

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Single specimen or a bonded pair

Diet

Omnivore: cichlid pellets, shrimp, worms, small fish, insects and some plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Atlantic slope of southern Mexico to Nicaragua, including the Yucatán Peninsula; introduced in Florida

Breeding

Pairs spawn on cleaned rocks or flat surfaces and both parents guard the eggs and free-swimming fry fiercely. Breeding is easy in a large tank once a compatible pair has formed, but the parents become very aggressive towards tankmates.

Good to know

Highly territorial and predatory, so tankmates must be large and robust. It is an established invasive species in Florida and may be restricted or banned from release or import in some regions, so never release it into the wild.