mayan cichlids in the mexican bay

[jworth]

I have heard of this behavior but it was a sight to see with my own eyes.

I was heading out for a fishing trip in Cancun, Mexico standing on the dock. I was amazed at all the fish life around. The most common of the fish there were Mayan cichlids. There they were swimming next to a puffer, redfish, snappers and misc minnows. A sight to see for sure. I am now motivated to own one. It appears fishkeepers could keep Mayans in ANY salinty fresh to salt. Just wanted to share the story. Sorry, no pictures. But you should see pics of the 4 ft barracuda I caught!

 

[cichlidfish]

I saw a lot of mayans when i went to Riviara Maya. They were in brackish and freshwater. It seems like mayans are the most common fish in that part of Mexico. The resort i stayed in had hundreds of mayans stocked in ponds and canals.

 

[duanes]

They also live in the lagoons around Isla de Mujeres, a 45 minute ferry boat ride from the mainland.
They may be considered a sub-species called troescheli, and the ones I saw seem to have brighter colors

 

[armac]

In the bay areas, saltwater, outside of Everglades City there are lots of mayans, they are happy in salt or freshwater.

 

[Pomatomus]

Yeah I caught about 70 of them last year in the Everglades. Fresh-Brackish water.

 

[jworth]

they all seemed to swim in pairs when i saw them, i dont know if it is breeding season. It seemed so odd. Honestly, swimming next to a puffer!

 

[robmcd]

Did you try to hook any from the dock???

 

[jworth]

Did you try to hook any from the dock???

I did not. I booked a charter trip so all of the gear was on the boat and it was deep sea gear.

 

[croc 2-3]

must have been a sight to see many c.a. cichlids can tolerate salinity especially veja & amphilophus. nothing like viewing creatures in their natural habitat.

 

[NorCaliCichlids]

I've seen them in the brackish ponds on a golf course in Cancun.