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.
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).