Festae ("red terror") Info

[Tucc185]

I recently picked up a really thin, really beat up 3 or 4" festae from work, I don't know a whole lot about them specifically but of course I've kept many of the less common SA/CA cichlids so I'm not a total noob. Just curious as to some general info about them, especially experience with them and other fish. Right now he's in with 2 retic rays, a prochilodus and a few other things, no cichlids though. He/She/it has been eating pretty well on bloodworms, frozen discus cubes, chopped troutworms, krill, basically everything. It's fattened up considerably and its wounds are all but healed over by now, so It's looking like I'll end up with this fish for a while. when do they start to show color? when can I sex them with any accuracy? Is there any discrepency with the identification of this species in the trade? I know the distributor we got them from has a tendency to sometimes misidentify some of the less common cichlids. How can I tell if it's a true festae? I can try to post pics soon if that will help. Thanks!

 

[cichniss]

In order to tell whether its a true festae you must look at the tail spot. If it is only taking up the very top portion of the tail its a true red terror if its much larger then you have a Uro. Pics will help with its identification. If its a male festae it can obtain nearly 20" or around 14" if female. If its a uro then your looking at about 14" or so. Try to get it eating some good quality cichlid pellets like NLS or hikari. Color will improve near the 5" mark and you can feed it krill to encourage red/orange coloration. GL with the new fish!

 

[reptech]

u have pics ???

 

[Modest_Man]

Post some photos. Then we can tell you if it's a festae or uro, and the sex.

To distinguish the two, festae have a "Y" bar on the shoulder and the caudal eye spot is smaller.

For sexing festae, females have a black dorsal fin.

 

[Tucc185]

Ok gonna go get some pics if I can. What is uro short for btw?

 

[cookiemonster]

"Cichlasoma" uropthalamus (not sure about the spelling on that, but you get the idea).

 

[Tucc185]

some (admittedly crappy) pics. My rays kept getting in the way of the camera begging for food. So what's the verdict?

 

[GroggyCichlid]

That's a Uropthalmus, not a festae. Nice fish, nonetheless.

 

[Tucc185]

Oh well. Anyone have a good pic of an adult Uro? I searched the forum, but didn't find too much about them. Cool fish, but I think it may be going back to the store now that it's doing better. I really was looking for a true festae. Anyone want it in MA? PM me. I'd rather see it go to an MFK'er who could keep it properly. Thanks for all the help.

 

[balton777]

I don't want the Mayan but I'll gladly accept that Prochilodus.