Mayan cichlid (Mayaheros urophthalmus) is a freshwater, brackish species recorded in Singapore. It is mainly found over sand, mud, estuary.
Scientific name: Mayaheros urophthalmus · Water: Freshwater, Brackish
Size: up to 39.4 cm
The Mayan cichlid is a Central American cichlid native to the fresh and brackish waters of Mexico and Belize that has spread widely through releases and escapes, and Singapore is now one of its established outposts in reservoirs, canals and river mouths. It is deep-bodied with dark bars and an eye-like blotch on the flank, and it shrugs off pollution, low oxygen and brackish water; the literature gives a maximum length of 39.4 cm. Locally it works the mud along reservoir banks, drains and estuaries and it takes almost anything, so bread, prawn or a small soft plastic under a float will catch it — an easy first fish for beginners. Being introduced, it should not be released after capture.
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