Vieja fenestrata Care Guide
Vieja fenestrata is a large Mexican cichlid of Atlantic-slope rivers, feeding mainly on plant matter and reaching about 25 cm.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Vieja fenestrata is a large Central American cichlid native to Mexico, recognised by its iridescent scales and mid-flank markings. FishBase records a maximum standard length of about 25 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Vieja
- Scientific name: Vieja fenestrata
Habitat
The species occurs on the Atlantic slope of Mexico, in rivers from the Papaloapán basin to the Chachalacas basin. FishBase describes it as a benthopelagic freshwater fish of lakes with muddy or sandy bottoms, at temperatures of 23-30 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 500 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
It feeds primarily on plant and vegetable matter, supplemented by invertebrates and aquatic insects (FishBase trophic level about 2.7). A vegetable-based diet is appropriate in the aquarium.
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.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018).
Vieja fenestrata Breeding Guide
Overview
Vieja fenestrata is endemic to western Mexico, occurring in and between the rivers Papaloapan and Chachalacas, where it inhabits clear lakes with sandy or muddy substrates and slower river sections. It is a biparental substrate-spawner that uses large stones or caves.
Sexing
Males are larger and more colourful, develop a nuchal hump and display extended dorsal and anal fins. Females are comparatively plainer.
Conditioning
The species is predominantly herbivorous but also takes insects and invertebrates, so conditioning combines quality cichlid pellets with meaty foods such as prawn, mussel and white fish, plus vegetable matter. A compatible pair is set up in a stable system before spawning.
Breeding Setup
- Temperature 23-30 °C (74-86 °F).
- pH around 7.0 with hardness up to 15 °H.
- Large stones or caves as spawning surfaces.
- A large tank, given a maximum length of about 30 cm and the male's potential aggression toward the female.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The pair selects and cleans a large stone or cave surface for egg deposition. The male can become highly aggressive toward the female during breeding, so generous space and structure are important.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch in two to three days, and the fry free-swim about four days later. Both parents provide care but may turn aggressive toward the offspring when ready to spawn again.
Common Challenges
Managing male-on-female aggression and providing a sufficiently large tank are the key issues. The recorded breeding type is substrate-spawner, matching the biparental stone-and-cave spawning described by the sources used here.