Vieja Breidohri

🔹 Scientific Name: Vieja breidohri

🔹 Common Name: Vieja Breidohri, Quetzal Cichlid (sometimes confused with Vieja melanura)

🔹 Type: Freshwater Cichlid

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📏 Size

• Maximum Size: 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm)

• Males are larger and develop more pronounced nuchal humps (forehead bumps) than females.

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🌍 Native Habitat

• Origin: Usumacinta River Basin, including rivers and lakes in Mexico and Guatemala

• Prefers slow to moderate-flowing rivers, lagoons, and areas with submerged branches and rocks.

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⏳ Lifespan

• Average Lifespan: 10 to 12 years, or longer with excellent care and a stable environment

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🍽️ Diet

• Diet Type: Omnivorous, with a strong tendency toward herbivory in the wild

• Wild diet includes plant matter, algae, insects, and small invertebrates

• In aquariums, feed:

  • High-quality pellets formulated for herbivorous/omnivorous cichlids

  • Blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach, peas)

  • Occasional bloodworms, brine shrimp, or krill

  • Avoid excessive protein, which can cause bloating or health issues

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🧬 Breeding

• Breeding Behavior: Open substrate spawners and biparental caregivers

• Breeding Season: No fixed breeding season in captivity; year-round with proper care

• Pairs form strong bonds, clean flat surfaces for spawning, and guard eggs and fry aggressively

• Fry hatch within 2–4 days and become free-swimming within a week

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🐟 Best Tank Mates

Vieja breidohri is territorial and semi-aggressive, especially when breeding. Best kept with other robust, similarly sized fish.

• Good tank mates:

  • Other Central American cichlids (e.g., Rocio octofasciata (Jack Dempsey), Firemouth, Severum)

  • Plecostomus or large Synodontis catfish

  • Large tetras or silver dollars (in large tanks only)

• Avoid:

  • Small, delicate fish (e.g., tetras, guppies)

  • Highly aggressive species (e.g., Amphilophus species) unless in a very large setup

  • Overcrowding or keeping multiple males in small spaces

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🏡 Aquarium Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons for a single adult; 125+ gallons for pairs or communities

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)

  • pH: 7.0–8.0

  • Water hardness: Moderate to hard

• Tank Setup:

  • Use sand or fine gravel substrate

  • Decorate with rocks, driftwood, and robust plants (though some may be uprooted)

  • Strong filtration is essential due to size and waste production

  • Provide plenty of swimming space and territories