The genus Vieja represents a group of cichlids from Central America. These cichlids are remarkable beautiful and the species represent a large range of interesting colors and patterns. One notable thing about these fish is that can get large, twelve inches is not uncommon but what is notable is there mostly herbivorous but will accept most foods. Many hobbyists offer these fish spinach and squash in addition to prepared aquarium foods like spirulina cichlid pellets.

 

Their distribution in terms of geography spans from Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua Central America. Currently there are some sixteen species of Vieja listed below. That said it is not uncommon for cichlids like these to be reclassified to another genus. At one point they were Cichlasoma as was many other fish and moved to Theraps.

 

As larger cichlid they tend to me slow moving and relatively peaceful outside of spawning or when eggs or fry are present. And this fish can become quiet dense or thick which is very noticeable including nuchal humps which are common in large adult males. Species like Veija synspila on display in many museums which offer aquarium exhibits. Actually V. syspila are on exhibit at the Bronx Zoo in New York. The most beautiful Vieja is probably V. synspila also called V. synspilum the Redhead cichlid. Known to be large and beautifully colored in bright reds and oranges with blacks, just a gorgeous cichlid.

 

 

Vieja argentea (Allgayer, 1991)

Vieja bifasciata (Steindachner, 1864)

Vieja breidohri (Werner & Stawikowski, 1987)

Vieja fenestrata (Günther, 1860)

Vieja godmanni (Günther, 1862)

Vieja guttulata (Günther, 1864)

Vieja hartwegi (Taylor & Miller, 1980)

Vieja heterospila (Hubbs, 1936)

Vieja intermedia (Günther, 1862)

Vieja melanura (Günther, 1862)

Vieja microphthalma (Günther, 1862)

Vieja regani (Miller, 1974)

Vieja tuyrensis (Meek & Hildebrand, 1913)

Vieja zonata (Meek, 1905)