The Mayan Cichlid, Mayaheros urophthalmus : Native Mesoamerican species, with high aquaculture potential

Abstract

Aquaculture allows food production, bringing important social and economic benefits that result in high nutritional value and accessible costs for the population. Mexico has a great diversity of native species with great potential for this activity, such as the Mayan cichlid, Mayaheros urophthalmus. The present bibliographic review was carried out in Google Scholar, libraries and the institutional repository of the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco on the advances in the knowledge of the biology, fishery and aquaculture potential of the mojarra castarrica. Among the results, it was found that 60% of them are focused on the biology and ecology of the species, highlighting that it is an omnivorous fish with a carnivorous tendency that normally feeds on fish and invertebrates, presents an important fecundity, reproducing several times during the warm months. The fishery status of the beaver is uncertain; at present, catches are reported as encompassing all cichlids, so there is no basis to indicate its status. However, fishermen report low catches. In aquaculture, there are advances in culture, nutrition and biotechnological aspects, with larval culture being identified as one of the critical phases of development. In the grow-out stage, it can be cultivated in cages, geomembranes or earthen ponds, using a feed containing between 32 and 45% protein. Progress has been made in nutrition, but there is still no feed specifically designed for this species. Many more studies are required to determine its fishing and aquaculture potential.