“To appreciate the true splendour of this fish, see extra large version here”: http://www.bidkev.com/red-terror.php

Comes from Ecuador and Peru, with an extant introduced population also thriving in Singapore. Known from both the Rio Esmeraldas in Ecuador and the Rio Tumbes in Peru.

The beauty of this fish belies it’s true nature, being classed as amongst the top 5 most aggresive cichlids, hence it’s common name.

The male grows to 20 inches, the female often only reaching 12 inches.

Unlike the vast majority of cichlids, the female species of Red Terror, is more brighly coloured than the male.

Cichlasoma festae is not a fish to be messed with. Its large size and ferocious attitude can lead to some serious issues in an aquarium. Make sure you have a large enough aquarium to begin with, as very few shops (or hobbyists) will take a 12"+ Red Terror off your hands when it grows too large for your tank.

A stunning fish and a challenge to breed, the Red Terror can make an amazing centre piece for any large, predatory south American cichlid setup.

Canon 40D 100mm macro