Amphilophus festae
Amphilophus festae female.
PHOTOS: © VCS 2010. |
Scientific Name: Amphilophus festae (Boulenger, 1899).
Previous Name/s, Synonym/s: Heros festae.
Common Name: Red Terror, Guayas Cichlid, Harlequin Cichlid.
Geographic Origin: Upper Marañon River, Southern Ecuador.
Habitat: River.
Diet: Carnivore.
Gender Differences: Dimorphic.
Breeding: Substrate spawner.
Temperament: Highly aggressive.
Maximum Size: 40cm.
Temperature Range: 23-30°C.
pH: 7.2-7.8.
Water Hardness: Soft.
Comments:
Sexing of Amphilophus festae is difficult until they are roughly 10cm in length when the front portion of the dorsal fin and the pelvic fins of females will turn black and they will generally lose any blue spangling they may have had. Males on the other hand will keep the blue spangling and their entire dorsal and pelvic fins will remain red.
Amphilophus festae are ranked as one of the most aggressive cichlids in the world, if attempting to breed, it is best to purchase several juveniles and let them grow up and pair off on their own. Once a pair is formed, all other fish will need to be removed from the tank.
Amphilophus festae is often mistaken for `Cichlasoma' uropthalmus (Mayan cichlid), the simplest way to tell the two apart is, the second vertical bars will form a Y on the upper portion of the body on A. festae. All bars on the C. uropthalmus are strictly vertical and should not intersect.
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