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Anyone have anything to share about experiences or opinions regarding these red-headed of firehead cichlids?

I think fireheads were actually around a while ago. I recall seeing them at my LFS's when I was first starting out.

The scientific name is cichlisoma synspilum (sp?) I've never keep anything, but Jason_R_S is very experienced, especially in with keeping old world cichlids. I would go to him about this fish.

Here are some links to the fish;
http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Cichlasoma_synspilum.html

http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0318&view_records=1

Hopefully we're referring to the same fish

You are correct in that it is the Vieja Synspilus. They are not old world cichlids though those are africans. New World Cichlids are CA/SA cichlids. I have one in my 125g. As far as community fish go they are pretty good with fish of their size. They are primarily herbivorous but feeding protein based foods such as bloodworms, mysis shrimp, etc... Three times a week is ok. However, their basic diet should be spirulina based. Either flakes or pellets. They are beautiful fish but like most Vieja species can be susceptible to bloat which is caused by feeding too much protein based foods. If you have any more questions let me know.

Paratheraps synspilum is the new name for them. Most fish from the Vieja genus have been reclassified to Paratheraps. Anyway, I have 2 of these guys that are currently ~4-4.5" and so far they are pretty well tempered. I've heard numerous times they're one of the more docile of the Paratheraps genus unlike the bifasciatum and fenestratum which can be quite aggressive.

In my experience with these and numerous articles I've read on the net, the Paratheraps genus are more omnivorous than herbivorous. I believe the only 'true' herbivores among New World cichlids are Herichthys bocourti and Herichthys pearsei. I'd feed a nice wide variety of spirulina based and shrimp based foods as well as a high quality cichlid pellet. I get most of my foods now through www.kensfish.com. They have great prices and even with shipping included you'll pay far less than what you would at any lfs. I have been advised to stay away from most food sticks and color enhancing pellets. The only color enhancing pellets that I know that aren't harmful are Hikari and BioBlend. Others can contain steroids which are definitely no good for your fish. My 2 synspilum are in my 150 gallon tank with Theraps wesseli, Amphilophus robertsoni and a couple Thorichthys species as well as 6 bichirs. I feed the tank mostly soft n moist krill, sinking vegetable sticks, sinking spirulina pellets and sticks and shrimp pellets.

I do plan to keep a close eye on them as they get bigger to make sure they stay even tempered. So far my more dominant one only gets into occasonal squabbles with my male firemouth. There is never any damage done though...only a lot of flaring. The synspilum however have not reached maturity so their temperament could change quite a bit.

One final note, many fish found in lfs labelled as synspilum are often a hybrid of several Paratheraps species. Just like the Midas, Red devil and green terror these fish have been hybridized by unknowing hobbyists and breeding farms who have kept similar species together and bred them not knowing they were different species. One way to definitely tell is the black lateral line that runs horizontally across the side of the body. If this line is very short, ending close to the end of the dorsal then it is more synspilum. If the lateral line runs across the entire body or even most of the body it is not a pure synspilum and is likely more closely related to either fenestratum or bifasciatum.

Last edited by jason_r_s at 08-Oct-2004 00:25

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I saw one in a lfs and I was amazed by its assortment of colors so I picked one up. It's only about 2 inches right now and I have it in a 55 gallon with a young jack dempsey and a convict. Seems to be doing good. Hopefully it stays healthy and grows nice and fast so I can upgrade to that 180 gallon tank I want.

Mean fish well a few of myn have been i have been breeding them for around 5 years nearly a third of my life. And there have been good and bad. They have swithch genus so many times i just call them synspilum's i have a big male that is around 13 inches that occupies a 8foot tank by himself. i only add females when it is time to breed otherwise he kills them. they have an amazing fighting style well i spose you can call it that.lol. that can take a absalute beating and its like they no that there going to be biger and meaner than most fish so they bide there time. this happend to my jds 2 of them were picking on one of my smaller juvies they would have been around 7'' and he/she as its imposible to tell the diference was around 3'' and the jds chased the synspilum around a 4foot tank for like three months untill one day i found 2 big mean jds up behind the powerhead and a 7'' synspilum swiming freely with no one chaseing him.

Last edited by Jimmy22 at 10-Oct-2004 01:00