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No federal permit to keepOaxaca cichlid
Vieja zonata
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Care follows the central and south american cichlids guide below.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 48 in long and 21 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 9.8 in / 25 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–86°F (range recorded for this species).
- Hardness: 12–20 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 73–86 °F, pH 7–7.5, 0–20 dGH.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Tank setup is not critical as the fish will arrange the decor to suit itself.”
- Diet: “Vegetable matter in the form of spirulina or algae wafers should form an important part of the diet, as this fish is primarily herbivorous in nature.”
- Tankmates: “In a large enough aquarium, with sufficient space for territories, it is possible to keep this fish in groups with other similarly-sized cichlids and robust species.”
- Breeding: “The main challenge inbreeding this species is getting the pair to co-exist in the same tank!”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Central and South American cichlids
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rivers and lakes of the Americas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Size ranges widely, from convicts at 5 in to Parachromis over 20 in; plan tank size for the adult fish.
- Most tolerate neutral, moderately hard water; strong filtration and rock or wood caves.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–82°F |
Diet
- Omnivorous cichlid pellets plus vegetables for herbivores (Vieja, Uaru) and meaty foods for predators (Parachromis).
Social life
- Territorial; breeding pairs can clear a whole tank.
Health watch
- Aggression and territorial injuries, especially when breeding; hole-in-the-head in poor water.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–86 °F (23–30 °C), pH 7.5, hardness 12–20 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–86 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 93°F (up to 96°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 62°F (down to 58°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 75–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 70–73% on average (driest month about 66%) |
| Rainfall | about 1121 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 15 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
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