fish · Cichlidae
Quetzal cichlid
Vieja melanurus
Wild range: Atlantic slope of southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, centred on the Usumacinta (Grijalva–Usumacinta) river drainage and the Petén lake district, including Lake Petén Itzá (FishBase; Seriously Fish; Aquarist Atlas). Introduced populations exist in Florida, Puerto Rico and Singapore through aquarium releases (USFWS risk screening; Wikipedia). (Central America)
At a glance: Quetzal cichlid care
Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.
What temperature is listed for Quetzal cichlid?
The compiled profile lists 24.0–28.0 °C for Quetzal cichlid (Vieja melanurus). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.
What tank size is listed for Quetzal cichlid?
The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 125.0 US gallons (473.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.
What pH is listed for Quetzal cichlid?
The compiled profile lists a pH of 7.0–8.0. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.
Natural habitat
A large, deep-bodied Central American cichlid, still widely sold as 'synspilum'. Juveniles are plain olive-silver with dark blotches, but adults turn spectacular, with an orange-red to pink head, blue-green and gold flanks and a black blotch towards the tail; males grow bigger and develop a nuchal hump. It is largely vegetarian, digs and rearranges décor, and needs a very large tank for a single fish or a pair.
Where they are found
Catalog primary Vieja melanurus (Günther, 1862), the spelling used by the Catalog of Fishes (via Aquarist Atlas), FishBase, Seriously Fish and Atlarium; ITIS (TSN 648944) and GBIF (2372015, accepted) spell it Vieja melanura. Described as Heros melanurus from Lake Petén, Guatemala. The trade name 'synspilum' comes from Cichlasoma synspilum Hubbs, 1935, now a junior synonym of V. melanurus because the supposed differences (mainly the angle of the black tail stripe) vary within one fish and across the range (McMahan et al.; Catalog of Fishes; GBIF; FishBase). ITIS still lists Vieja synspila (TSN 649576) separately, an outdated split. So 'Quetzal cichlid', 'Redhead cichlid', 'Firehead cichlid' and 'Synspilum' all refer to this one species. Other synonyms: Cichlasoma melanurum, Paraneetroplus melanurus, Heros melanopogon Steindachner, 1864, Vieja synspila / V. synspilum, Paraneetroplus synspilus, Cichlaurus hicklingi Fowler, 1956 and Cichlasoma hicklingi. It is a parent species of the blood parrot and flowerhorn hybrids, and hybrids with other Vieja are common in the trade, so shop fish may not be pure. Max 35 cm TL (FishBase); Seriously Fish gives 35 cm SL; females stay smaller, around 25 cm (Atlarium). IUCN: the only assessment, under Vieja synspila (2018), is Data Deficient; IUCN now marks that concept as no longer recognised, and V. melanurus has not been assessed under its own name.
Aquarium care
A single adult or a pair needs at least about 125 US gal / 473 L with a footprint of 150–180 cm or more (Seriously Fish 120 × 60 × 60 cm, about 500 L, for a pair; Aquarist Atlas about 120 gal minimum and 180 gal recommended; retailer guides 125–132 gal). Tankmates need much more room. Keep it at 24–28°C (Atlarium and retail guides 24–28°C; Seriously Fish, FishBase and Aquarist Atlas give up to 30°C), pH 7.0–8.0 and moderately hard to hard water, 10–20 dGH (FishBase 9–20 dH; Atlarium 10–20; Seriously Fish 10–15). Use sand or fine gravel for digging, with heavy, securely placed rocks and driftwood that can't be toppled onto the glass. Rooted plants will be uprooted or eaten. It is a big, messy feeder, so use oversized filtration (sump or large canisters), gentle to moderate flow and large weekly water changes; protect heaters, which large fish can break (Seriously Fish; Aquarist Atlas; Atlarium).
Feeding
Herbivore-leaning omnivore; in the wild it eats detritus, plants, algae, seeds and fruit with some invertebrates. Use a vegetable-based or spirulina cichlid pellet as the staple, plus blanched vegetables (peas, courgette, lettuce, spinach) and algae wafers. Treat meaty foods such as prawn, mussel, krill or earthworms as an occasional extra. A rich, high-protein diet is linked to bloat and hole-in-the-head in big Vieja (Seriously Fish; Aquarist Atlas; Atlarium).
Compatibility
Moderately aggressive and very territorial, especially while breeding, when a pair can dominate a large tank. Keep it as a single fish, as a bonded pair or, in a very large tank with plenty of rock and wood territories, with other robust Central American cichlids, large plecos or big characins. Success with tankmates isn't guaranteed. Anything small enough to swallow will be eaten, and timid or long-finned fish will be bullied. Watch that the male doesn't harass the female. community_safe false; not for nano tanks (Seriously Fish; Atlarium; Aquarist Atlas).
Breeding
Breeds readily once a compatible pair has formed; the main challenge is keeping the pair together. Males are larger and more colourful, with a nuchal hump and longer dorsal and anal fins; females are smaller and deeper-bodied. Buying a group of juveniles and letting a pair form, or buying an established pair, works best. The male can be very rough with the female during courtship, so provide cover or a divider. Feed the fry newly hatched brine shrimp, then microworm and crushed pellets. Remove them when the parents get ready to spawn again (Seriously Fish; Aquarist Atlas).
Sources
Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.