Click here to see several pictures.

Above: In this picture a young premium quality Red Terror Cichlid is swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Both males and especially females of this species become much more colorful as they mature.

Comments: These are awesome fish, and a mature female can be one of the most colorful fish in the world.

Origin: The ancestors of the Red Terrors came from Peru and Ecuador in northwestern South America.

But now they live in aquariums all over the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums males can grow to be about 20" long with females quite a bit smaller at maybe 12".

So this species will eventually grow too big for most aquariums.

Behaviors: Red Terrors are usually aggressive, they can be territorial as they mature and begin to spawn.

Compatibility: These fish do best in a species only tank, but can do well with similar cichlid species.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Red Terrors live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food for these Cichlids to eat.

It's best to feed them small pellets when they're small, then gradually increase the size, as these fish grow bigger.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: These fish can adapt to most types of water, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or alkalinity.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Red Terrors will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 250-gallons of water.

Decor: Red Terrors do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but these fish will usually dig up plants.

So plants are usually not featured in an aquarium with this fish.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

Most 80-gallon aquariums have room along the back for two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of the minimum set up for young Red Terrors.

Better is a 120, 150, or 200 250-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.

Eventually this fish will need at least a 250-gallon aquarium.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Red Terrors can live for several years.

Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they'll live a long time and possibly breed to produce the next generation of fish for your aquarium.

Gender: When they mature, the males become a combination of green, yellow, and gold, but the females are often covered with red and orange areas, making the female one of the most colorful fish in the world.

Breeding: Red Terror females lay their eggs on rocks where the male fertilizes them, both parents then protect the eggs and the babies, after they hatch.

But this species is apparently rather to breed in aquariums because of the big size.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: The Red Terrors are becoming more and more popular aquarium fish.

Names: Their scientific name is now Mesoheros festae, but it was named Cichlasoma festae for many years.

Variations: There are no variations of this species that are known to us, but this fish occurs over a wide area so there may be color variations.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Red Terrors, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 03/01/2015