Vieja melanurus

Vieja melanurus, widely known as the Red-tailed Cichlid or Red-tailed Goodeid, is a large and visually striking species from the Usumacinta and Grijalva river systems of Mexico and Guatemala. Adult males in breeding condition undergo a remarkable colour transformation — the posterior body and unpaired fins flush with vivid red to orange-red, contrasting with the greenish-silver anterior. This sexually dimorphic display is among the most dramatic of any Central American cichlid. A herbivore that will destroy plants, it is best kept in a large, robustly decorated aquarium.

Water: 22–28°C, pH 7.0–8.0, moderately hard (GH 8–18). Tank: Minimum 450L; use large rocks and driftwood; artificial plants or very hardy species like Anubias. Feeding: Herbivore; spirulina pellets, blanched vegetables, algae wafers, and cichlid flake. Breeding: Open pit or flat-surface spawner; both parents extremely territorial during brood care. Compatibility: With other large Central American cichlids; not suitable with small fish.