Blackbelt Cichlid (Vieja maculicauda)
| Blackbelt Cichlid Vieja maculicauda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Blackbelt Cichlid |
| Name Lat. | Vieja maculicauda |
| Synonym | Cichlasoma maculicauda |
| Family | Cichlids |
| Family lat. | Cichlidae |
| Order | Cichlids |
| Order lat. | Cichliformes |
| Origin | Central America |
| Habitat | Rivers, oxbow lakes |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| Behavior | Aggressive |
| Keeping | Pair |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Reproduction | Substrate spawner |
| Breeding | Moderately difficult |
| Life Span | 5-8 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 25-30 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 °C |
| Hardness | 8-15 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 500 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 10"-12" |
| Temperature | 75-82 °F |
| Hardness | 142-267 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 130 gal |
Distribution and habitat
Black-belted cichlids are widely distributed in western Central America, from the Rio Usumacinta watershed in Guatemala to the Rio Chagres in Panama. They live mainly in stagnant river sections, lakes and lagoons with sandy muddy bottoms, roots and sometimes dense aquatic vegetation.
Maintenance
The aquarium should have a dense border planting, with many hiding places (stones, roots), and offer free swimming space. A substrate of sand covered with some foliage (e.g. sea almond leaves) and shaded light (floating plants) is ideal.
No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the size of the aquarium is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.
Diet
The food supply consists of high-quality dry food for cichlids (pellets, granules), supplemented with some live or frozen food, such as artemia, mysis, shrimps and red mosquito larvae or a commercially available, frozen special food mix for cichlids. Furthermore, they need sufficient vegetable food, such as spinach, crushed peas, algae leaves or dry food with high vegetable content (spirulina).
Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
It is recommended to keep them in pairs. They often behave aggressively within the species and towards other fish, especially during the spawning season they defend their territory emphatically. Keeping them in groups is only recommended in a much larger, richly structured tank. They can be socialized with other robust Central American cichlids. They regard fish that are too small as food. Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature may be socialized.
Sex dimorphism
The males are slightly larger, more intensely colored and they have a forehead hump. With some experience, the sexes can be distinguished by their genital papilla, which is pointed in the male and blunt-ended in the female.
Reproduction and breeding
They spawn on shallow stones or roots (open brooders) up to 600 eggs. Both parents perform brood care and intensively defend the territory (parental family). After 2-3 days the fry hatch, which are then housed and guarded in a prepared bottom pit until they swim freely after 5-6 days and the brood care ends
Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (e.g. Artemia nauplii). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.
Important
In the large distribution area there are some differently colored site variants.
Since they like to burrow, stone structures must be well secured.
The foliage (sea almond tree, oak, etc.) enriches the water with humic substances, naturally lowers the pH and is a valuable secondary food source (detritus)
The well-being of the fish should be monitored regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata
Source: BMEL (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (2004): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 4, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF