TankBud

Viejita dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma viejita

Also known as Red edge apisto, Rotsaum

FreshwaterFish

Viejita dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma viejita)
lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Own kind
One male per tank
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Tributaries of the Rio Meta in the Orinoco drainage of Colombia, in shallow, slow, densely vegetated savannah waters.

Overview

The Viejita dwarf cichlid is a small, mostly peaceful apisto for a soft-water planted tank. Keeping it well takes a little experience.

Did you know

The true Viejita dwarf cichlid is uncommon in the hobby. For years its name has been attached to line-bred color forms that are really other Apistogramma. Most fish sold as viejita are actually the related Apistogramma macmasteri or hybrids.

Caring for the Viejita dwarf cichlid

Keep a single male Viejita dwarf cichlid with one or two females in 20 gal (75 L) or more. It is a small, harem-forming dwarf cichlid, and only one male belongs in a tank. Provide caves, leaf litter and dense planting so each fish can hold a territory.

Keep the water soft, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Feed small live and frozen foods. The fish stay near the bottom.

It is mostly peaceful and safe with community fish, and it turns defensive only around a female's breeding cave. Males show a red or orange edge along the dorsal fin. Each female breeds in a cave, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Kullander described the Viejita dwarf cichlid, Apistogramma viejita, in 1979. Its trade name Rotsaum comes from the colored edge on the male's dorsal fin, a mark that identifies the species.

In the wild

The Viejita dwarf cichlid comes from tributaries of the Rio Meta, in the Orinoco drainage of Colombia. It lives in shallow, slow, densely vegetated savannah waters with very low mineral content.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Viejita dwarf cichlid is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. Keep only one male per tank. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Viejita dwarf cichlid need?

A Viejita dwarf cichlid needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Viejita dwarf cichlid need?

A Viejita dwarf cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a Viejita dwarf cichlid eat?

A Viejita dwarf cichlid eats small live and frozen foods.

How big does a Viejita dwarf cichlid get?

An adult Viejita dwarf cichlid reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

How can you tell a male Viejita dwarf cichlid from a female?

Males have a red or orange edge running along the dorsal fin.

How does a Viejita dwarf cichlid breed?

Viejita dwarf cichlids breed in caves, with one male to one or two females. Each female has her own breeding cave, and the fish turn defensive around it. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Related species