Red Terror
Mesoheros festae
Cichlidae
About
The red terror is one of the largest and most belligerent New World cichlids, native to the Pacific-slope rivers of western Ecuador and northern Peru, from the Esmeraldas to the Tumbes drainage. Males can reach around 45 cm and occasionally more, turning silvery with blue spangling and dark bars, while the smaller females (around 30 cm) flush an intense fiery red, especially when in breeding condition. It is a powerful, predatory digger that forms pairs but is savagely territorial toward almost everything else, making it strictly a species-only or very large tank subject for experienced keepers.
Care
House a single fish or a bonded pair in a very large, long tank of at least 210 cm base (about 800 L) with powerful over-rated filtration, sand substrate and heavy, well-anchored decor. Keep a secure lid and do large weekly water changes. Do not mix with small or bite-sized tankmates.
Diet
Carnivore-leaning omnivore that hunts fish, crustaceans and insects in the wild. Staple a large-cichlid pellet plus earthworms, prawns, mussel and whitefish, with a little plant matter; avoid feeder fish and mammal meat and control portions.
Tankmate compatibility
Avoid (271)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Red Terror need?
- A Red Terror needs an aquarium of at least 793 litres (209.5 US gallons) with a footprint at least 210 cm (82.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Red Terror need?
- Red Terror does best at 24–30 °C (75.2–86 °F), pH 6.5–8 and a general hardness of 5–20 °dGH.
- Is the Red Terror suitable for beginners?
- Red Terror is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.