Cichlasoma Festae Red Terror Cichlid 5cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The 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.
- Adult Size: Around 35–40 cm (14–16 in) for males; females 25 cm (10 in)
- Lifespan: 10–15 years
Origin
- Native to: Río Esmeraldas and Río Tumbes basins, Ecuador and Peru
- Habitat: Rivers and tributaries; adaptable to varied conditions
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, mainly benthic invertebrates in nature
- Preferred Foods: Large cichlid pellets, earthworms, prawn, mussel, mealworms, krill
- Feeding Habits: Feed once daily; avoid mammal meat and feeder fish
Tank Mates
- Best with: Equally large, equally aggressive Central and South American cichlids, big plecs
- Avoid: Anything smaller, timid or peaceful; often best kept alone or as a pair
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Highly aggressive, one of the most belligerent cichlids
- Territoriality: Extremely territorial; will attack fish larger than itself
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Challenges: Aggression, pair violence, size and filtration demands
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, moderately soft to moderately hard
- Temperature: 25–29°C (77–84°F)
- pH: 6.0–8.0
- Hardness: 4–18 dGH
- Flow: Moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 750 litres for a pair; larger with tank mates
Final Notes
Growth 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.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.