Redhead Cichlid
Paraneetroplus melanurus
The Redhead Cichlid (Paraneetroplus melanurus) is an aggressive fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 285 litres (75 US gallons), water held at 75-82°F, and a pH of 7-8.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Central America
- Central America & Mexico
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Redhead Cichlid Tank Setup
Give them at least 285 litres (75 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 75-82°F and a pH around 7-8. They grow to around 37 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Redhead Cichlids Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Redhead Cichlid Tank Mates
Robust, adaptable Central American river cichlid - far more tolerant of varied water chemistry than Rift Lake species, but grows large and needs a correspondingly large tank. Territorial and increasingly aggressive with size and age; best kept singly or as an established pair. The Redhead Cichlid is aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Redhead Cichlids Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Redhead Cichlid - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Redhead Cichlids need?
Redhead Cichlids need a tank of at least 285 litres (75 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Redhead Cichlids need?
Keep them at 75-82°F with a pH of 7-8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Redhead Cichlids eat?
Redhead Cichlids are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Redhead Cichlids good for beginners?
Redhead Cichlids are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Redhead Cichlids
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 285 litres (75 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Redhead Cichlids will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Redhead Cichlid against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Redhead Cichlids
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Neon TetraSize risk - Redhead Cichlids will likely eat Neon Tetra at adult size
- Bronze CoryIncompatible temperament or care requirements
