The Mayan cichlid (Mayaheros urophthalmus), known for many years as Cichlasoma urophthalmus, is a hardy Central American cichlid species that inhabits the Atlantic-slope drainages from Mexico (including the Yucatán Peninsula) down to Nicaragua. It has also been introduced to South Florida, specifically the Everglades and Florida Bay. This article delves into the dietary habits of the Mayan cichlid, both in its natural environment and in captivity, offering insights into its nutritional needs and feeding behavior.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Mayan cichlid's natural habitat is quite diverse. They inhabit freshwater marshes, mangrove swamps, lakes, rivers, rocky shorelines, lagoons, estuaries, and coastal islands. Adult Mayan cichlids prefer coastal lagoons and rivers and may even survive in marine conditions. They can be found in oxygen-rich areas near submerged vegetation and over muddy substrates. The species is native to the Atlantic slope of tropical Mesoamerica, ranging from eastern Mexico southward to Nicaragua. Although they prefer waters with dissolved oxygen content of at least 3.5 mg/L, they are capable of surviving in extreme hypoxia, becoming much less active in hypoxic water, and even surviving virtual anoxia for up to two hours.
Dietary Habits in the Wild
The Mayan cichlid is a dietary generalist, consuming organisms from a variety of disparate taxa. In the wild, Mayan cichlids consume crustaceans, small fish, snails, and algae. The Mayan cichlid has a broad functional repertoire to enable it to feed on about 20% of evasive prey due to its 6.8% jaw protrusion while feeding. It is an opportunistic carnivore/omnivore. However, it is susceptible to malnourishment, apparently due to the requirement that a relatively large proportion of its diet be animal prey.
Feeding in Captivity
In captivity, Mayan cichlids should be fed a varied diet to ensure optimal health and growth. Offer quality sinking cichlid pellets or sticks as the staple. Supplement this with meaty items such as fish or shrimp pieces, krill, mysis, brine shrimp, bloodworms, and occasional vegetable matter like spirulina wafers. It is important to avoid mammalian or avian meats.
Aquarium Diet Recommendations
- Staple Food: High-quality sinking cichlid pellets or sticks that are specifically formulated for omnivorous cichlids.
- Protein Sources: Supplement the diet with meaty foods such as:
- Fish pieces (e.g., small pieces of white fish)
- Shrimp pieces
- Krill
- Mysis shrimp
- Brine shrimp
- Bloodworms
- Vegetable Matter: Offer occasional vegetable matter to provide essential vitamins and minerals:
- Spirulina wafers
- Blanched vegetables (e.g., zucchini, spinach)
- Live Foods: Providing live foods can offer enrichment and stimulate their natural hunting instincts:
- Live brine shrimp
- Blackworms
- Small feeder fish (use with caution to avoid disease introduction)
Tank Setup
It is recommended to replicate their natural habitat in captivity, requiring a large aquarium with a minimum of 55 gallons. However, as they grow, the aquarium should be upgraded accordingly. Live plants and a sandy substrate are ideal for these cichlids, and a neutral to alkaline pH of 6.0-8.0 is preferred.
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Considerations for Feeding
The key in feeding fish beyond just nutrient levels is digestibility. In large aquaculture facilities, the feed conversion ratio is constantly scrutinized, getting it right can mean the difference in hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, or saved, in feed. Waste isn't near the factor in a large vat, or natural pond setting, but is certainly a concern to most hobbyists, and the larger the fiber content, the more solid waste that will be produced.
General Information
The Mayan cichlid (Mayaheros/Cichlasoma urophthalmus) is a large, euryhaline Central American cichlid. Keep in spacious, well-filtered, alkaline tanks with robust tankmates or alone. Native populations use both fresh and brackish water, and they can spawn in either environment. The Mayan cichlid reaches a maximum length of 39.4 cm (15.5 in), making it one of the larger cichlids. The body is oval and flattened on the sides, with a head that tapers towards the mouth. The fins are spiny. The base color is typically yellow-brown to gray-brown, which intensifies to red during breeding. The head and throat are reddish, especially in younger fish. The caudal fin and the soft sections of the dorsal and anal fins are usually more or less reddish. Six wide green-black vertical stripes run across the sides of the body between the base of the pectoral fin and the base of the caudal fin. There is a large black eye spot circled with blue-green on the tail stem.
Temperament and Tank Mates
Mayan cichlids are known to be aggressive and territorial, especially during breeding. They should be kept singly or as a proven pair. Do not mix with small fish, as they may be seen as prey. If combining with other fish, choose other large, robust Central American cichlids or comparably sized fish, and provide multiple territories.
Breeding
This species is a monogamous, biparental substrate spawner that exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism and guards its fry for up to six weeks. All of these traits are greatly developed and represent an extreme in the general pattern found in the genus Mayaheros. Mayan cichlids spawn for a nine-month period from March to November, particularly during the wet season from June to September, when the water temperature is at least 24 degrees Celsius. Multiple broods are raised per year. The fry appear to be adapted to lotic water. As breeding season starts, Mayan cichlids will begin constructing a nest before spawning. In the wild, these nests are around four inches deep and found in the roots of mangroves or amongst rocks in the substrate.
Conservation Status and Human Use
In its native range, the Mayan cichlid is a popular food fish. For this reason, it is the basis of a regional fishery and is commonly used in aquaculture.
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