Black belt cichlid
Vieja maculicauda
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C73–81 °F
- pH
- 7–8
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
Calmer than many large cichlids but still very big; needs a long tank, rock and wood, and plenty of vegetable food.Calmer than many large cichlids but still very big; needs a long tank, rock and wood, and plenty of vegetable food.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Brilliant rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Firemouth cichlid
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Garnet tetra
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
Lambchop rasboraNo shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Tiger danio
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Black belt cichlidAlligator gar may eat Black belt cichlid
- Altum angelfish
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Amazon leaffish
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Black belt cichlidArapaima may eat Black belt cichlid
- Atahualpa dwarf cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Bee shrimpNo shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Black pacu
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 12–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Atlantic slope from Guatemala to Panama | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | semi aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | herbivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |