Festae Cichlid

Cichlasoma festae, commonly known as the Red Terror, is found in the Esmeraldas and Guayas river systems of Ecuador and northwestern Peru. It is a sexually dichromatic species in which females, unusually, are the more vividly coloured sex: females develop an intense fiery orange-red body with bold vertical black banding that intensifies dramatically during breeding. Males are larger but less colourfully marked, displaying a silver-green body with faint banding.

The Red Terror is one of the largest cichlids regularly kept in the aquarium hobby and is considered an advanced species due to its extreme aggression, large adult size (females to 35cm, males to 50cm), and demanding space requirements. Its breeding behaviour involves one of the most intense parent-fry defence strategies in the cichlid world.

For the large-cichlid specialist with the space and experience to accommodate it, the Red Terror is among the most impressive and rewarding cichlids available.

Water: 23–28°C, pH 6.5–7.5, soft to moderately hard water; massive water changes required for large adults. Tank: Minimum 600L for a pair; extremely robust filtration; large smooth rocks; no live plants. Feeding: Carnivore; large cichlid pellets, whole prawns, earthworms, and meaty frozen foods. Breeding: Large aggressive pair; spawns on flat surfaces; parental defence is extremely intense — other fish at serious risk. Compatibility: Keep alone or as a pair only; will injure or kill almost any other fish in the aquarium.