Please could someone ID this cichlid for me ;)

[earthling]

I bought this cichlid last week for £5 but I can't remember exactly what it is
I was told that it can live in either fresh or marine water, if that's any help He/she is approx 5-6 inches in length at the moment, a very beautiful fish and has (not sure if it's clear in the picture....I was just glad to get him to keep still ) a reddish tinge to his side scales I've hunted high and low through all of my cichlid books but can't find a fish that looks even remotely like him/her Can anyone shed a bit of light for me please Thanks xxx

 

[Sarah88]

mayan cichlid/urophthalmus (spelling?)

 

[jonclark96]

mayan cichlid/urophthalmus (spelling?)

 

[earthling]

Thanks Sarah and Jon (That was quick HAHAHA) The name doesn't ring a bell but I've got something to google with now for information. Thanks again xxx

 

[CTU2fan]

Sometimes the shops will sell it as a "red terror" but yes, mayan/uro.

 

[Sab_Fan]

I agree, looks like a Mayan . . . I had never heard that they could live in marine - - or even brackish - - water, tho' . . .

 

[VRWC]

Yep, in Florida they have moved into coastal estuaries as well as waterways.

from Florida Museum of Natural History:

Within their native range this euryhaline fish is found in a wide range of coastal lowland habitats, exhibiting a tolerance if not outright affinity for brackish to marine conditions. Mayan cichlids have even been observed to breed in the sandy areas near coral reefs.