{"product_id":"blue-spot-synspilum-vieja-melanura","title":"Blue Spot Synspilum | Vieja melanura","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Blue Spot Synspilum, also known as the Redhead Cichlid, is a giant of personality — dominant fish blaze with red, gold and turquoise, and mature specimens develop a distinctive nuchal hump. Big, bold and characterful, it grows to around 30–35 cm and needs a serious tank and robust tankmates. It is a Central American cichlid for the committed keeper.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eVieja melanura comes from the warm rivers, lakes and lagoons of Central America, across southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. It favours slower, vegetated stretches with submerged wood and rocky cover, in warm, moderately hard, near-neutral water.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA massive, deep-bodied cichlid whose colour intensifies with age and status — a fiery red-orange head and throat over a body flecked with turquoise and blue-green, and bold dark markings along the flank. Dominant males develop the pronounced forehead hump and the most intense colour.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBe candid: this is a large, territorial and often aggressive cichlid, especially as it matures and at breeding time. It should only be kept with other robust, similarly sized Central American cichlids or large tankmates that can hold their own, in a tank large enough to break up territories.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivore that leans towards vegetable matter, it does best on a quality large-cichlid pellet with a good proportion of plant-based food, plus occasional protein such as prawn or earthworm. Avoid an over-rich, meaty diet, which can cause digestive problems in this genus.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a very large tank of 450 L or more with robust decor, secure rockwork and strong filtration to cope with a big, messy fish. Keep temperature at 24–30 °C, pH 6.5–8.0 and moderately hard water, with regular large water changes to keep nitrates low. Not plant safe — it will dig, rearrange and eat plants.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eVieja melanura is an open substrate-spawner and a committed parent. A pair cleans a flat surface, lays a large batch of eggs and then guards the eggs and fry fiercely together. Pairs can be very aggressive towards each other and tankmates when in breeding mode, so give them space.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVieja melanura\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRedhead \/ Synspilum Cichlid (Blue Spot)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCentral America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 30–35 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–15 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAggressive and territorial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e600 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (vegetable-leaning): large-cichlid pellet, plant foods, occasional protein\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–30 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerately hard, around 8–20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge Central American cichlid tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (digs and eats plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other large, robust Central American cichlids such as Vieja, Amphilophus (midas\/red devil types where space allows), and other big, tough tankmates like large plecos.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with small or peaceful community fish, delicate species, and anything that cannot defend itself against a large, territorial cichlid.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232806289699,"sku":"AA3042-S","price":23.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232806322467,"sku":"AA3042","price":28.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232806355235,"sku":"AA3042-L","price":33.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-30cm)","offer_id":55351965843747,"sku":"AA3042-XL","price":38.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/blue-spot-synspilum-vieja-me-43886494843171.webp?v=1790306325","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-spot-synspilum-vieja-melanura","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}