Red terror
Mesoheros festae
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 25–28 °C77–82 °F
- pH
- 7–7.8
- Adult size
- 30 cm12 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
One of the most aggressive large cichlids; plan for a very large tank, heavy filtration and often a single fish or a proven pair.One of the most aggressive large cichlids; plan for a very large tank, heavy filtration and often a single fish or a proven pair.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African clawed frog
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Blue acara
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Brilliant rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Celestial pearl danioNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Dusky millions fish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Glowlight danio
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Golden dwarf barb
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Lambchop rasboraNo shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pearl danio
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Ticto barb
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Zebra danioNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Red terrorAlligator gar may eat Red terror
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 25–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7–7.8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Pacific slope rivers of Ecuador and northern Peru | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | 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 | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |