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Cichlids
/ Central America / Cichlasoma / Redheaded Cichlid
Quetzal Cichlid, Redheaded Cichlid, Firehead Cichlid
"Cichlasoma" (Paratheraps) synspilum | Pictures
Synonyms: Cichlasoma hicklingi, C. synspilus
Physical description: An oval shaped fish, which develops are large hump on the top of the forehead. The head to just past the gill cover is red. This red area is followed by a white area, which is followed by a mix of green, gold, red, orange, and blue hues. The dorsal and caudal fins are also multicolored, although dominated by gold and orange colors. The anal and pelvic fins are dominated by green and blue colors.
Size/Length: To 14" (36 cm)
Similar species: Hypselecara temporalis, Cichlasoma bifasciatum, Cichlasoma maculicauda
Habitat: Found in muddy, slow-moving water. Central America; from the Rio Usumacinta Basin in Mexico and Guatemala to the Belize River in Belize.
S: bottom, middle
Aquarium: A tank of 48" (122 cm) with a capacity of 70 gallons (266 L) is necessary for adult fish because of their size. Preferably a longer tank can be used. Young individuals can be kept in smaller tanks. The bottom should be sand and fine gravel. Provide plenty of shelter and hiding places with driftwood, rocky areas, stone plates, and caves. Only use sturdy, well-rooted plants, for this fish has a habit of snacking on plants and burrowing in the substrate. Use dimmed light. Frequent water changes are necessary for this large cichlid to prosper. The Redheaded Cichlid does best with peat filtered water.
Water chemistry: pH 6.8-8 (7.0), dH 2-15 (4), 75-82°F (24-28°C)
Social behavior: A peaceful fish when kept with medium to large cichlids. However, among themselves, they are territorial and aggressive. Keep two as a pair.
FOOD: The Redheaded Cichlid needs a varied diet to develop its beautiful coloration. If fed the same foods, their colors will fade. Live; insect larvae-especially bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, larger crustaceans, insects, earthworms, Tubifex; pellets; vegetables; spinach, peas, lettuce; chopped meat.
Sexual differences: Older males have a large hump on their forehead and have brighter colors. Males have a pointed genital papilla.
Breeding techniques: Breeding the Redheaded Cichlid is often difficult because of poor compatibility among pairs. The best way to prevent poor pairing is to acquire at least 6 fish when they are young. At 4" (10 cm), the fish begin to pair off. At that time, get rid of the other fish and keep only one pair. Up to 1200 eggs are laid on a previously cleaned substrate. The fry hatch in 2-3 days and are free-swimming after 4-5 more. Remove some of the fry as they often do poorly of they continue being raised by the parents. The parents protect and lead the young. Start feeding with Artemia nauplii, roftiers, and crushed flake foods.
Breeding potential: 8. A difficult fish to breed, mostly because of the troubles in pairing.
Remarks: Fish that have grown up together usually form better pairs. Fights between pairs often lead to death of the weaker mate. Different color variations are known.
Difficulty of care: 7. This fish needs a well-balanced diet with live food given on a regular basis.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
How to save the world's oceans from overfishing
(7/8/2007) Global fishing stocks are in trouble. After expanding from 18 millions tons in 1950 to around 94 million tons in 2000, annual world fish catch has leveled off and may even be declining. Scientists estimate that the number of large predatory fish in the oceans has fallen by 90 percent since the 1950s, while about one-quarter of the world's fisheries are overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion. Despite these dire trends, the situation is changing. Today some of the world's largest environmental groups are focused on addressing the health of marine life and oceans, while sustainable fisheries management is at the top of the agenda for intergovenmental bodies. At the forefront of these efforts is Mike Sutton, director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's conservation program: the Center for the Future of the Oceans. The aquarium, which has long been recognized as one of the world's most important marine research facilities, is pioneering new strategies for protecting the planet's oceans. Sutton says the approach has four parts: establishing new marine protected areas, pushing for ocean policy reform, promoting sustainable seafood, and protecting wildlife and marine ecosystems.
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