All fish / Cichlidae

Blackbelt Cichlid

Vieja maculicauda

Also known as black belt cichlid, blackbelt, black-belted cichlid, maculicauda, cichlasoma maculicauda, paraneetroplus maculicauda, vieja maculicaudus, black belt, ヴィエジャ・マクリカウダ, 黑带丽鱼, 黑带慈鲷

This is a big, deep-bodied Central American cichlid. Adults have a broad black band across the middle of the body, and the head, throat and fins turn red, most strongly in breeding fish. Keepers like it because it is hardy and calmer than many cichlids its size, and its colours are striking.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

600 litres

Keep as

Singly, as a pair, or in a large tank with other big Central American cichlids

Diet

Omnivore: mostly plant matter, so give spirulina or vegetable pellets, blanched greens and peas, plus some shrimp and insect foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Atlantic slope of Central America, from southern Mexico (Usumacinta area) to Panama (Chagres basin)

Breeding

It lays its eggs on a flat stone, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. Breeding a settled pair in a big tank is fairly easy, but the parents get very protective, so tankmates may need to be moved out.

Good to know

It grows to 30 cm or more, so it needs a very large tank and strong filtration. It eats and uproots plants, and breeding pairs can turn aggressive.