Tailbar cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

The tailbar cichlid is a deep-bodied Central American cichlid that needs a large tank with rockwork. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Caring for the tailbar cichlid

Keep a single adult tailbar cichlid or a pair in at least 92 gal (350 L). Provide rockwork, sturdy decor and open swimming space through the middle of the tank.

Hold the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed a varied diet of pellets, frozen foods and vegetable matter.

The tailbar cichlid is more manageable than many large Central Americans, but it is still territorial when breeding. Choose its tank mates with some caution. Males develop dense red spangling over the body. Breeding is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

The tailbar cichlid, Vieja hartwegi, was described by Taylor and Miller in 1980. A 2018 study documented a fast-water form that lacks the mid-body band, which shows how variable the species is.

In the wild

The tailbar cichlid lives in the rocky rivers of the Grijalva River system, in Chiapas, Mexico, and Guatemala.

Common questions

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