Vieja synspila also known as the quetzel cichlid, redhead cichlid or firehead cichlid is a large (30 cm, 12 in) Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

n cichlid

Cichlid

Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...

 fish species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

. It is one of the most colourful cichlid species with males displaying metallic green, blue, green, pink and orange along their flanks. Vieja synspila has been used in creating new hybridized aquarium cichlids that became popular in Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

 in recent years. Vieja synspila is probably one of the parents of modern blood parrot cichlids and flowerhorn cichlids.

People believe that this fish has scales all the colours of the rainbow.