Two-Banded Cichlid (Vieja bifasciata) Care Guide
Vieja bifasciata is a large detritivorous cichlid of the Grijalva and Usumacinta basins in Mexico and Guatemala, reaching about 30 cm.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Vieja bifasciata is a large Central American cichlid marked by two distinct dark bands across the body. FishBase records a maximum standard length of about 30 cm. It is less commonly seen in the hobby than some other Vieja species.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Vieja
- Scientific name: Vieja bifasciata
Habitat
The species occurs on the Atlantic slope of Central America in the Grijalva and Usumacinta River basins of Mexico and Guatemala. FishBase reports it inhabits calm waters of lakes, lagoons and lower river valleys with slow to moderate flow, at temperatures of 26-30 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
It feeds mainly on bottom detritus and vegetable matter, taking most forms of plant life from algal filaments to terrestrial plants (FishBase trophic level about 2.0). A vegetable-based diet is appropriate in captivity.
Compatibility
It is a large, territorial cichlid suited to a spacious tank with similarly sized Central American species; small fish and live plants are generally unsuitable.
Breeding
The species is a substrate spawner; FishBase reports a fecundity of approximately 500 eggs per spawn.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Data Deficient (assessed 2018).
Vieja bifasciata Breeding Guide
Overview
Vieja bifasciata, the Red-spotted or Two-banded cichlid, is found in the Rio Grijalva and Usumacinta basins of western Mexico and Guatemala, in still or slow-moving waters with luxuriant vegetation and algae. All studied members of the genus Vieja are biparental substrate-spawners.
Sexing
The male is larger and much more colourful, with red around the face and throat and gold, yellow and blue on the flanks. The female is comparatively drab. The fish has two prominent lines running between the eyes.
Conditioning
The species is a herbivorous detritivore, so conditioning is high in vegetable content, supplemented with frozen peas, spinach, bloodworm, earthworm and prawn. Mammalian meats such as beefheart and chicken should be avoided.
Breeding Setup
- Temperature 27-29 °C (80-85 °F).
- pH around 7.0-8.5; hardness in natural waters ranges 8-33 °H.
- A flat stone or similar surface as the spawning site.
- A large tank, as the species grows to about 30 cm and is moderate to very aggressive.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
As a substrate-spawner, the pair selects and cleans a surface for egg deposition. Aggression varies considerably between individuals, so pairing should be monitored.
Egg & Fry Care
Clutches can number two thousand or more eggs, which hatch in around 72 hours. Fry become free-swimming within a week and are fed Artemia nauplii and microworm several times daily, with both parents guarding the brood.
Common Challenges
Variable, sometimes severe aggression and the large tank required are the principal challenges. The recorded breeding type is substrate-spawner, matching the biparental substrate-spawning described by the source used here.