I have recently acquired a Vieja Fenestratus. I was wondering if you could give me some info on this fish. Size, adult coloration, temperament, etc.
Much thanks,
Jeremy
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Vieja Fenestratus
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Vieja Fenestratus
by jerkyvan » Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:25 pm
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by Pam Chin » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:19 pm
Hi Jerkyvan,
Vieja fenestratus is a very cool Central American Cichlid. They get about 10 - 12 when fully grown. However they will spawn once they are sexually mature, around 1 year, and quite a bit smaller. They are found in Mexico on the Atlantic slope, restricted to the rio Coatzacoalcos basin in Oaxaca & Vercruz. They are very pleasant fish to work with, and they are nice looking, however once they start getting old enough to spawn they can be quite aggressive. While their actual spawning site may only be 4 square feet, they will chase a fish for over 30' in the wild, to bring home the message that they better not come back. That is incredible, that means you need a 30' foot tank to accomodate the flee length! This means if you get a pair going, they will nail everything in the tank, so keep that in mind. They do take in quite a bit of vegation as well as insects and invertibraes in the wild. As they get larger, you may have to apply the egg-crate method, where the female can escape to her side of the tank or hang out on the male side.
A little more info!
http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery/species.php?s=232
Vieja fenestratus is a very cool Central American Cichlid. They get about 10 - 12 when fully grown. However they will spawn once they are sexually mature, around 1 year, and quite a bit smaller. They are found in Mexico on the Atlantic slope, restricted to the rio Coatzacoalcos basin in Oaxaca & Vercruz. They are very pleasant fish to work with, and they are nice looking, however once they start getting old enough to spawn they can be quite aggressive. While their actual spawning site may only be 4 square feet, they will chase a fish for over 30' in the wild, to bring home the message that they better not come back. That is incredible, that means you need a 30' foot tank to accomodate the flee length! This means if you get a pair going, they will nail everything in the tank, so keep that in mind. They do take in quite a bit of vegation as well as insects and invertibraes in the wild. As they get larger, you may have to apply the egg-crate method, where the female can escape to her side of the tank or hang out on the male side.
A little more info!
http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery/species.php?s=232
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Re: Vieja Fenestratus
by Pam Chin » Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:30 pm
Here is some additional information that I have received from Juan Miguel regarding this species.
Paratheraps fenestratus (See generic discussion in the forum) is not endemic
to Rio Coatzacoalcos, in fact it can not be found in Rio Coatzacoalcos, its
distribution ranges from Rio la Antigua in the north to Rio Papaloapan in
the south, where it has its largest population. Normally it is found no
higher than 500 m OSL but in the spring it can go up to 1,000 meters OSL. In
recent years exotic populations have been observed as north as Rio Cazones.
It is a gregarious fish which feeds mostly on vegetable matter.
All the best
Juan Miguel Artigas Azas
Editor
The Cichlid Room Companion
http://www.cichlidae.info
Paratheraps fenestratus (See generic discussion in the forum) is not endemic
to Rio Coatzacoalcos, in fact it can not be found in Rio Coatzacoalcos, its
distribution ranges from Rio la Antigua in the north to Rio Papaloapan in
the south, where it has its largest population. Normally it is found no
higher than 500 m OSL but in the spring it can go up to 1,000 meters OSL. In
recent years exotic populations have been observed as north as Rio Cazones.
It is a gregarious fish which feeds mostly on vegetable matter.
All the best
Juan Miguel Artigas Azas
Editor
The Cichlid Room Companion
http://www.cichlidae.info
- Pam Chin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1633
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2003 10:11 am
- Location: California, USA
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