Cichlid Profiles - Red Terror Cichlid
 

Amphilophus festae, the Red Terror, is is as brilliantly colored as it is nasty. Often thought at first glance to be a salt water fish, its colors are unrivalled by any other fresh water fish. It is native to Ecaudor. The males have a gold base color with a tiger eye spot on the caudal peduncle, and 7 vertical black body stripes. They have metallic blue and green spotting all over the back half, and black or metallic navy blue Ventral and spiny Dorsal fins. There is a deep red blush in the head region. Some adult males lose their stripes entirely. Females are mostly fire engine red, also with 7 bars and the tail spot. The tail fins are red in both sexes.The colors get much bolder in breeding season. Males get up to a foot long, females 7 inches. They are close relatives of Trimacs, and are ancestral to some Flowerhorn strains.

These omnivores are among the most vicious to their own species and other cichlids. They are predatory, and should be fed pieces of fish and shrimp. Despite being excellent parents, if their fry are disturbed, the pair usually fight viciously. Unlike their near relatives, they are fairly tolerant of plants. A pair needs a 70 gallon tank. They like pH 7-7.8, and temperature of 77 to 83 degrees. The tank should have caves, rocks and roots.