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Old June 8th, 2013, 11:58 AM   #1
robertprice
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Default Cichlid Profiles - Vieja synspila, Redhead Cichlid

This Vieja is probably the most colorful wild New World cichlid and is an ancestor of Blood Parrots and Red Dragon Flowerhorns. It lives in Central America, from S.E. Mexico through Nicaragua and Belize. It likes slightly acid to slightly alkaline water pH 6.7-7.3, and does fine at pH 7. It does best at 76-86 degrees. It is often referred to as synspillum which is incorrect as the genus Vieja, meaning Old Lady, is feminine.

The coloration has three zones, which differ in size from fish to fish. The head is bright red, often with a blue eye. The body is green, blue and purple for the first 1/2, with a lateral blotch of dark color above the lateral line under the dorsaL fin. The rear haif of the body is gold or orange with black spots. Adult males get a small nuchal hump, and otherwise are very difficult to tell from females. It is polychromatic and changes color depending on its mood.

They get about 8 inches long, with rare ones approaching a foot. They don't like each other very much, and prospective pairs often fight. Otherwise, they are moderately aggressive. It can be kept in a 55 gallon community tank with other m oderately aggressive cichlids such as Severums and Geophagus. Silver Dollars, Loaches, and Catfish. It likes tanks with bogwood, rock hides, and branches. It is primarily an herbivore in the wild, and should be fed pellets with spirulina, algae wafers, and supplemetal shrimp pieces, live worms, and beef heart. Too much beef heart makes tieir color darken.

They are substrate breeders and an excllent parents who will care of their young until the next breeding season. A 100 gallon tank is recommended for breeding, as the parents may fight. Kept singly, they don't move a lot and can be kept in a 40 gallon tank.
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