FreshwaterBrackish
Redhead cichlid
Vieja melanurus
Cichlidae, Cichlasomatinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 35 cm
- Body shape
- Deep-bodied
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 1,044 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
NativeIntroduced
Lives wild in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Introduced to Hong Kong SAR China and Singapore.
Videos
Big family Vieja melanurus
Oliver KnottJul 20, 2026
More about the species
Description
Inhabits lakes and the lower river valley with a slight tolerance for the brackish environment.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Cichlasoma hicklingi
- Cichlasoma melanurum
- Cichlasoma synspilum
- Cichlaurus hicklingi
- Heros melanopogon
- Heros melanurus
In other languages
- Guldcichlide, Rødhovedet cichlide
- Pikikirjoahven, Tulikirjoahven
- Pastel cichlid, Quetzal, Quetzal cichlid
Articles
All articles
How to set up a Central American aquarium5 min read
Hard, alkaline water, sand and rock: an aquarium from the rivers and lakes of Mexico and Central America, with cichlids and livebearers.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
Ich (white spot)4 min read
The most common disease in aquarium fish. How to recognize it, why it shows up, and how to get rid of it.