Vieja zonata Breeding Guide

Breeding notes for Vieja zonata, a Mexican open substrate brooder that lays 100-1000 eggs hatching in about three days with guarding parents.

Overview

Vieja zonata is a cichlid endemic to Mexico's Isthmus of Tehuantepec region, occurring on both Pacific and Atlantic slopes including the Rio Niltepec, Rio Tehuantepec and Rio Coatzacoalcos and their tributaries. According to AquaInfo it inhabits flowing rivers, stagnant pools, lakes and lagoons, preferring sandy substrates. Females can reach 30 cm and males up to 35 cm.

Sexing

AquaInfo reports that males grow larger with more pronounced head profiles and display vibrant coloration including blue sheens and green-yellow iridescent spots, while females remain smaller, exhibiting more yellow-brown tones and sometimes pink coloration at the gill area.

Breeding Setup

AquaInfo lists a temperature of 24-28 degrees C, pH 7.5-8.5 and hardness 12-20 degrees GH for this species. A breeding tank should provide alkaline, medium-hard to hard water with a sand substrate that allows the natural digging and substrate preparation these fish use. The Aquairi record classifies the species as a substrate spawner of intermediate breeding difficulty.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

AquaInfo describes Vieja zonata as an open substrate brooder that establishes spawning territories through digging and substrate preparation. The female deposits about 100 to 1000 eggs.

Egg & Fry Care

According to AquaInfo the eggs hatch in approximately three days depending on temperature. Parents actively guard the offspring and in nature feed them by swirling up the soil, while in the aquarium fry may consume parental skin secretions if other nutrition is insufficient.