Vieja synspila Breeding Guide
How to breed the Redhead cichlid (Vieja synspila), a large Mexican cichlid that spawns biparentally on a cleaned stone; now treated as a synonym of V. melanura.
Overview
Vieja synspila, the Redhead or Quetzal cichlid, is a large cichlid native to the Usumacinta and adjacent drainages of Guatemala, Mexico and Belize. It is a biparental substrate-spawner. Recent DNA work indicates that V. synspila is the same species as Vieja melanura, so the two names refer to one fish; the record name Vieja synspila is retained here.
Sexing
Males are generally larger, more intensely coloured and develop a nuchal hump as they mature, with pronounced dorsal and anal fins. Females have a more rounded body and subdued colours. The species reaches about 30 cm, occasionally larger, with females staying slightly smaller than males.
Conditioning
A compatible pair is conditioned on a varied diet in a stable, mature aquarium. Because males can become aggressive at breeding time, ample space and structure are provided beforehand.
Breeding Setup
- Temperature around 24-28 °C.
- pH around 7.0-7.5 with hardness around GH 8-12.
- A flat stone as the spawning site, kept clean by the pair.
- A large tank with hiding spots, given the species' size and aggression.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The pair selects a flat stone and meticulously cleans the surface before egg laying. The male may show increased aggression during this period, and after spawning the pair guards the eggs.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are laid and fertilised on the polished stone and hatch after about three days; the young swim free roughly a week later. Fry are raised on fine foods such as crushed flake or Artemia nauplii and are cared for by both parents.
Common Challenges
The main challenges are size, aggression and the large tank required. The recorded breeding type is substrate-spawner, matching the biparental stone spawning described by the sources used here. Note the synonymy with Vieja melanura reported by these sources.