Mayan cichlid
Mayaheros urophthalmus
- Tank length
- 150 cmabout 5 ft (59 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 20–30 °C68–86 °F
- pH
- 6–8.5
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
Tough Central American cichlid that tolerates brackish water; aggressive and needs a large tank with robust tankmates.Tough Central American cichlid that tolerates brackish water; aggressive and needs a large tank with robust tankmates.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Mayan cichlidAlligator gar may eat Mayan cichlid
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Mayan cichlidArapaima may eat Mayan cichlid
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Mayan cichlidCuban gar may eat Mayan cichlid
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Mayan cichlidDourada may eat Mayan cichlid
Iridescent sharkIridescent shark may eat Mayan cichlidIridescent shark may eat Mayan cichlid
- Longnose gar
Longnose gar may eat Mayan cichlidLongnose gar may eat Mayan cichlid
- Paroon shark
Paroon shark may eat Mayan cichlidParoon shark may eat Mayan cichlid
- Piraiba
Piraiba may eat Mayan cichlidPiraiba may eat Mayan cichlid
- Redtail catfish
Redtail catfish may eat Mayan cichlidRedtail catfish may eat Mayan cichlid
- Silver arowana
Silver arowana may eat Mayan cichlidSilver arowana may eat Mayan cichlid
- Wallago catfish
Wallago catfish may eat Mayan cichlidWallago catfish may eat Mayan cichlid
- Wallago leeri
Wallago leeri may eat Mayan cichlidWallago leeri may eat Mayan cichlid
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 20–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–25 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Atlantic slope of southern Mexico to Nicaragua | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 150 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |