Cookies seem to be disabled in your browser, therefore this website will NOT work properly! Please, consider enabling Cookies in order to maximise your user experience while browsing.
Recent discussions at Aqua-Fish+
  1. TheFishWorks at A guide on growing aquarium plants with FAQ, forum and species on
  2. Salviashaman at A guide on caring for Congo tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) on …display more of the recent discussions
  3. Salviashaman at A guide on setting a South American blackwater stream biotope aquarium on
  4. Figureguy at Chemistry of Aquarium Water with FAQ on
  5. Jackson20 at A guide on feeding aquarium fish frozen foods on
  6. Senator Wisdom at Bloodfin tetra (Aphyocharax alburnus) on
  7. CayceR at A page and forum devoted to keeping Blood parrot cichlids on
  8. Ness at A guide on raising African Dwarf Frogs with pictures and forum on
  9. Terry Mitchell at A guide on breeding, feeding and caring for L333 Pleco on
  10. Terry Mitchell at A guide on breeding, feeding and caring for L333 Pleco on
Black belt cichlid - Vieja maculicauda

Black belt cichlid - Vieja maculicauda

Scientific name: Vieja maculicauda

Common name: Black belt cichlid

Family: Cichlidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 20 - 30 cm (7.87 - 11.81 inch)

014

Recommended pH range for the species: 7 - 8

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 12 - 20°N (214.29 - 357.14ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 23 - 27 °C (73.4 - 80.6°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: Central America

Temperament to its own species: peaceful

Temperament toward other fish species: aggressive to smaller

Usual place in the tank: Middle levels

Origin

The Black Belt Cichlid can be found throughout most areas of Central America, particularly along the western waterways. They inhabit slow moving waters so water flow in the aquarium is not a major requirement but to keep oxygen levels up it is advised to aim the filter outlets towards the water surface to increase gaseous exchange.

Lifespan

7-8 years.

Short description

This is not a very demanding fish and can live in a wide range of water parameters but keeping the pH around the neutral level (7.0), will provide these fish with the best conditions to thrive and live a long life. They are quite happy in a simple aquarium set up so use sand for the substrate as they do like to burrow and adding some rocks or wood is sufficient.

They do not like bright lighting so keep the level dimmed, the use of floating plants will help with this.

Like most of the larger cichlids, they can have an aggressive temperament, this is heightened during spawning times and they are extremely protective towards their fry. Only keep the Black Belt Cichlid with species of a similar size, smaller fish will be seen as a food source.

These are not the most difficult fish to keep but inexperienced keepers may struggle with the aggression so be aware of this before purchasing.

Feeding

Feed them brine shrimp, worms, mosquito larvae, vegetables, granules once or twice a day. They are often classed as herbivorous but do require meaty foods added to their diet.

Sexing

Females are darker than males. Males usually have head hump.

Breeding

Black belt cichlids breed in captivity relatively easy. They’re egg-layers; eggs are laid on a previously cleaned rock. After 2-3 days the fry should hatch and will be free swimming a few days later. The parent fish will move the fry around the aquarium and pits will be made in the substrate to provide a nest. The fry should be fed Artemia salina.

Pictures

Bought by aqua-fish.net from jjphoto.dk. Also thanks to Jonathon Whipple.

Black belt cichlid, picture 1 Black belt cichlid, picture 2 Black belt cichlid, picture 3 Black belt cichlid, picture 4

Did you know?

Please, verify whether your login and password are valid. If you don't have an account here, register one free of charge, please. Click here to close this box.

You have been logged out successfully! This box will close automatically!

Something went wrong during processing your message, please try again!

Your message has been sent, thanks a lot!

Page has been saved, refresh it now, please!

The page has been created, you will now be redirected!

URL already exists!

Path to the photo is not unique!

Really delete this page from the database?

The page has been removed successfully, you will be redirected now!

The page couldn't be deleted!!

Unfortunately this page doesn't allow discussion. Please, find any other page that fits your area of interest as over 99% of our pages allow discussion. The reason why no discussion is allowed here is this page is too general. Thanks a lot for understanding! Click here to search, please!

Really delete this comment from the site?

Really delete this image from the site?

Really delete this image from the site?

Selected comment has been removed successfully!

Selected image has been removed successfully!

Either login or email address is required

Account has been recovered, please check your email for further instructions