{"product_id":"cichlasoma-festae-red-terror-cichlid-5cm","title":"Cichlasoma Festae Red Terror Cichlid 5cm","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Red Terror, Mesoheros festae, is a large, powerful cichlid from Pacific-slope rivers of Ecuador and Peru. Females blaze orange-red with bold black bars, while huge males turn green-gold with metallic blue spangling and a nuchal hump. Famed for its attitude, it is a showpiece for advanced keepers with very large tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/em\u003e Around 35–40 cm (14–16 in) for males; females 25 cm (10 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/em\u003e 10–15 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eNative to:\u003c\/em\u003e Río Esmeraldas and Río Tumbes basins, Ecuador and Peru\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHabitat:\u003c\/em\u003e Rivers and tributaries; adaptable to varied conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDiet:\u003c\/em\u003e Omnivorous, mainly benthic invertebrates in nature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePreferred Foods:\u003c\/em\u003e Large cichlid pellets, earthworms, prawn, mussel, mealworms, krill\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFeeding Habits:\u003c\/em\u003e Feed once daily; avoid mammal meat and feeder fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank Mates\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eBest with:\u003c\/em\u003e Equally large, equally aggressive Central and South American cichlids, big plecs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/em\u003e Anything smaller, timid or peaceful; often best kept alone or as a pair\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAggression \u0026amp; Behaviour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/em\u003e Highly aggressive, one of the most belligerent cichlids\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTerritoriality:\u003c\/em\u003e Extremely territorial; will attack fish larger than itself\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperience Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/em\u003e Advanced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eChallenges:\u003c\/em\u003e Aggression, pair violence, size and filtration demands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Parameters\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eWater Type:\u003c\/em\u003e Freshwater, moderately soft to moderately hard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/em\u003e 25–29°C (77–84°F)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003epH:\u003c\/em\u003e 6.0–8.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHardness:\u003c\/em\u003e 4–18 dGH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFlow:\u003c\/em\u003e Moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTank Size:\u003c\/em\u003e Minimum 750 litres for a pair; larger with tank mates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowth is rapid and the mature fish is a true tank buster, so plan a very large aquarium from the start. Pairing is difficult; raise six juveniles together and remove the rest once a pair forms, and keep a divider ready as males can kill females. Females keep the red juvenile colour; males grow far larger. Cave spawners laying thousands of eggs. A fish with real presence for the dedicated keeper.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SimsTF","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64680669741433,"sku":"STF-CICHLA-FESTAE","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1026\/3124\/4153\/files\/STF-CICHLA-FESTAE.png?v=1790096920","url":"https:\/\/birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk\/products\/cichlasoma-festae-red-terror-cichlid-5cm","provider":"Birchwood Aquatic Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}