Vieja

The silver cichlid, Vieja argentea, is a large Central American cichlid that appears to be endemic to the River Usumacinta drainage in Mexico. Also called the white cichlid, it is aggressive, especially towards conspecifics. It may be kept with other tough Central American cichlids if enough rock and bogwood forms territories for all, but there is no guarantee of success.

The red-spotted cichlid, Vieja bifasciata, is a large cichlid from the River Grijalva and Usumacinta basins of Mexico and Guatemala. It is often confused with V. synspila but has two prominent horizontal lines between the eyes. It is moderately to very aggressive depending on the individual, and some fishkeepers have to keep the fish, especially males, alone.

Vieja fenestrata is a large cichlid endemic to Mexico, occurring in and between the rivers Papaloapán and Chachalacas. It predominantly inhabits clear lakes with sandy or muddy substrates and beds of aquatic plants. Not all that common in the UK hobby, it is often confused with the more commonly available V. synspila, and is moderately aggressive.

The blackbelt cichlid, Vieja maculicauda, is a large cichlid found from the Usumacinta basin in Guatemala south to the River Chagres in Panama. It takes its name from the vertical black stripe around its flank and from its toughness. It lives in slow-moving rivers and lakes, sometimes in brackish or even marine conditions, and should only be kept with similarly aggressive fish of similar size.

The redhead cichlid, Vieja synspila, is a large cichlid endemic to the River Usumacinta basin in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. The most commonly available Vieja in the hobby, it is widely and incorrectly called V. synspillum. It lives in still or slow-moving lowland rivers and lakes, sometimes in mildly brackish water, and is moderately aggressive.

The Oaxaca cichlid, Vieja zonata, is a large cichlid that appears to be endemic to the River Tehuantepec drainage in Mexico. Hardy and easy to keep, though moderately aggressive, it is only occasionally available through specialist cichlid dealers. It can be kept with similarly sized cichlids in a large enough aquarium, and will eat any fish small enough to fit into its mouth.