Red Texas Care Guide
Herichthys cyanoguttatus
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Bioload Score
9000
- Max Size
- 30 cm / 11.8"
- Temperature
- 22–28°C (72–82°F)
- pH Range
- 6.5 – 8
- Min Tank Size
- 280L (74 gal)
- Min Group Size
- Can be kept alone
- Tank Level
- Mid-Top
- Origin
- North America (aquarium-bred hybrid; its Texas cichlid parent is native to the United States and northeastern Mexico)
- Temperament
- Semi-Aggressive
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding Difficulty
- Moderate
Diet
An omnivorous predator that eats pellets, insects, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates and occasional plant matter.
Community Compatibility
Best kept alone or with similarly large, robust cichlids such as Oscars, Vieja species and large plecos, with compatibility never guaranteed.
Good to Know
The Red Texas is not a scientifically recognized species but a selectively bred hybrid whose vivid red-and-blue coloration can vary greatly between individuals.
Gender Differences
Males commonly grow larger and develop more pronounced nuchal humps and extended fin tips, while females are usually smaller, although sexing can be unreliable in young or variable hybrids.
About the Red Texas
The Red Texas is a striking ornamental cichlid known for its intense red base colour, pearly blue or turquoise spotting and strongly individual patterning. Some specimens display broad areas of red across the body, while others retain extensive metallic speckling and darker markings reminiscent of their Texas cichlid ancestry.This fish is an aquarium-bred hybrid rather than a naturally occurring species, and its exact appearance, adult size and temperament depend on the parental strains used. It is commonly associated with Texas cichlid and flowerhorn-type lineages, which explains the substantial variation seen among fish sold under the same name.Red Texas cichlids are powerful, intelligent fish with assertive personalities. Adults often become territorial and may defend a chosen area vigorously, particularly when forming a pair or entering breeding condition; individual behaviour ranges from relatively manageable to highly combative.The principal wild ancestor, the Texas cichlid Herichthys cyanoguttatus, inhabits warm rivers, streams and backwaters in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. These environments can include rocky margins, submerged wood, vegetation and seasonally changing flows, although the Red Texas itself has no natural native range.As a member of the Central American cichlid group, the Red Texas combines bold behaviour with impressive visual development as it matures. Its colour may intensify with age, social status and breeding condition, making adult specimens especially sought after by enthusiasts who enjoy large, distinctive hybrid cichlids.
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