Redhead Cichlid
Vieja melanura
Cichlidae
About
The redhead cichlid, long traded as the synspilum, is a large, deep-bodied Central American cichlid from the Usumacinta drainage of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Adults develop a striking red-orange head and blaze against a pearly, blotched body. It is bold and industrious, forming territorial pairs, and while it is one of the calmer big Central American cichlids, it still needs a very large tank and firm stocking decisions.
Care
House in a very large tank (400 L+, 150 cm+ footprint) with a sand base, robust filtration and strong hardscape. Keep neutral to hard water at 25-28 C. Rooted plants will be dug up and eaten. Choose tankmates carefully as pairs turn aggressive when spawning.
Diet
Primarily herbivorous in the wild; grazes plant matter and detritus and digs constantly. Feed a vegetable-based pellet with greens and spirulina, using meaty foods only as an occasional treat.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (222)
Avoid (49)
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.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Redhead Cichlid need?
- A Redhead Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 400 litres (105.7 US gallons) with a footprint at least 150 cm (59.1 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Redhead Cichlid need?
- Redhead Cichlid does best at 24–30 °C (75.2–86 °F), pH 6.5–8.2 and a general hardness of 8–25 °dGH.
- Is the Redhead Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Redhead Cichlid sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.