Viejita dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma viejita
Among the most sought-after Colombian dwarf cichlids, with blue-violet flanks crossed by a dark lateral band and elaborate fins with red and orange hues. Native to Colombia's Orinoco basin, it lives in dark, tannin-rich waters with very acidic pH. Demands softer, more acidic water than its Amazonian cousins, and impeccable water maintenance — very sensitive to nitrogenous waste. In return, it rewards with stunning colors and complex social behavior: the male defends a broad territory while the female fiercely guards the spawning cave.
Température de l’eau
22 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
5.5 - 7
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
7,5 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 60 L
Groupe minimal
>= 3
GH
1 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 5 dKH
TDS
25 - 200 ppm
Conductivité
39 - 313 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the Orinoco basin in Colombia and Venezuela (Rio Meta). Lives in pools and oxbow lakes with very slow or zero flow, in grassy savannas, with muddy bottoms totally covered by thick leaf litter.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Viejita Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma viejita). Part of the "macmasteri" group, but with a markedly more elongated, slender and aerodynamic silhouette compared to the stockiness of the true A. macmasteri.
Social Behavior: Extremely territorial and egocentric male, not suitable for cramped shared spaces. Stubbornly guards the females and fiercely unfolds the high notched dorsal fin against any potential rival, even through the glass.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Males are stunning: silvery gray with a clear lateral stripe, fiery spots on the gills (and often on the belly), and the famous dorsal fin bordered with glowing orange. The shrunken female becomes canary yellow with jet black spots on the belly.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Specialized tank of minimum 80 cm (32 inches). Requires liters of tannins and amber water. The very soft sand bottom is essential for sifting. Provide a myriad of clay tubes or overturned coconuts, far apart from each other.
Diet and Feeding: Tireless hunter. Sifts the sand retaining invertebrates (Micro-predator). Needs live protein food (Daphnia, Grindal) or frozen (Bloodworms and Brine shrimp) every day in order not to waste away in the tank.
Water Quality: Demands absolute purity and constancy: very soft and slightly acidic water. Nitrites and ammonia at absolute zero. A filter failure triggers bacterial ulcers or an inexorable decay of the delicate coloration.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Absolutely banned together with large bottom "cleaners" or aggressive Cichlids. Shares the tank serenely only with calm and floating "dither fish" like the Hatchetfish (Carnegiella) and some docile Neon tetras.
Aquarium Breeding: "Cave" spawner. The female lays and adheres dark eggs to the roof of the most remote crevice. She will chase away the male, physically dominating him for weeks to protect the brood, even risking murdering him in short tanks.
Risks and Diseases: The true "Viejita" on the market is almost never found: it is 99% a hybrid with A. macmasteri. The hybrids are very delicate: they present swimming defects or widespread sterility at the first drop in temperature.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Endemic to the Orinoco basin in Colombia and Venezuela (Rio Meta). Lives in pools and oxbow lakes with very slow or zero flow, in grassy savannas, with muddy bottoms totally covered by thick leaf litter.
Origine
Amazonie, Orénoque et Guyanes
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- Apistogramma viejita is a peaceful but highly territorial dwarf cichlid, particularly during the spawning season. While they generally ignore top- and mid-water schooling fish, they will aggressively defend their chosen caves and immediate territory against other cichlids and bottom-dwellers. Males will establish hierarchies and can show significant aggression toward subordinate males or unresponsive females. Providing ample visual barriers like driftwood, rocks, and dense plantings is crucial to allow fish to establish territories and avoid constant confrontation.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- In their natural habitat, Apistogramma viejita are carnivorous micro-predators that feed on small aquatic invertebrates, insect larvae, and detritus found in the substrate. In the aquarium, they should be fed a protein-rich diet consisting of high-quality sinking pellets formulated for dwarf cichlids. This base diet must be regularly supplemented with live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, and mosquito larvae to support their immune system and vibrant colors. They are slow feeders that prefer to forage along the bottom, so ensure food reaches the lower levels.
- Espérance de vie
- 2-5 years
- Taille adulte
- 7.5 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Harem
- This species exhibits a harem-based social structure where a single dominant male territory overlaps with multiple smaller territories of females. It is highly recommended to stock them in a ratio of one male to three or four females, provided the tank is sufficiently large and structured. If kept in smaller aquariums, maintaining them as a single compatible pair is a safer option to prevent severe female-on-female aggression. A single male should never be kept with only one female in a small, unstructured tank, as his constant advances can stress her to death.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- 2-3 times daily
- It is recommended to feed Apistogramma viejita once or twice daily in small portions that they can completely consume within a few minutes. Providing multiple smaller meals instead of one large feeding helps prevent uneaten food from accumulating on the bottom and degrading water quality. Varying their diet throughout the week by alternating between dry pellets and live or frozen treats will keep them healthy and active. Feeding should ideally occur when the fish are active, avoiding times immediately before lights out.
- Charge biologique
- Low to Medium
- Apistogramma viejita has a relatively low to medium bioload due to its small size, but it is highly sensitive to organic waste, nitrates, and water quality degradation. To maintain a healthy environment, a well-cycled filter (such as a gentle sponge filter or a baffled power filter) is essential to keep ammonia and nitrite at zero. Regular partial water changes of 10-20% weekly are strongly recommended to keep nitrates low, as high levels can quickly lead to stress and diseases like hole-in-the-head. Accumulation of organic detritus should be minimized by vacuuming the substrate during maintenance.
- Courant
- Strong
- Apistogramma viejita originates from slow-moving streams, pools, and tributaries, meaning they strongly prefer weak to gentle water current. Strong currents can exhaust these small fish, leading to chronic stress and a compromised immune system. Filtration systems should be adjusted, baffled, or designed to output a diffused, slow flow; air-powered sponge filters are highly recommended for this reason. Creating calm zones using dense plantings, driftwood, and rocks allows them to swim naturally and feel secure in their territories.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Although they are bottom-oriented fish, Apistogramma viejita carries a moderate risk of jumping when startled or during territorial chases. Intense disputes between males or females fleeing a male's courtship can cause them to dart rapidly toward the surface and leap out of the water. To prevent accidental losses, the aquarium must be fitted with a tight-fitting lid or a secure mesh cover. Additionally, introducing floating plants can help diffuse overhead light and make the fish feel secure, reducing the likelihood of sudden panic-induced leaps.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding Apistogramma viejita is moderately difficult but highly rewarding, requiring soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5) and warm temperatures around 26-28°C. They are cave spawners, where the female deposits eggs on the roof of a cave or coconut shell and assumes sole custody of the brood, while the male guards the outer territory. The female becomes extremely aggressive toward all intruders, including the male, once spawning is complete. The fry hatch in a few days and are led by the mother around the tank, feeding on microscopic foods like rotifers and freshly hatched brine shrimp.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- Apistogramma viejita is compatible with small, peaceful schooling fish that occupy the upper and middle levels of the aquarium, such as tetras, pencilfish, and rasboras. These dither fish help reduce their shyness by signaling that no predators are nearby. They can also coexist with peaceful algae eaters like Otocinclus and dwarf shrimp, though shrimp fry may be eaten. Large, aggressive, or active bottom-dwellers (like large loaches or boisterous catfish) should be avoided as they will compete for territory and stress the cichlids.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- Apistogramma viejita is primarily a bottom-dwelling and lower-middle zone fish that spends most of its time near the substrate. They will actively patrol caves, driftwood roots, and low-lying vegetation in search of food and shelter. While they may occasionally venture into the upper-middle water column, especially during feeding times, their primary activities remain focused on the substrate level. Consequently, the choice of a soft sandy substrate is crucial to support their natural bottom-foraging behaviors without injuring their delicate mouths.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,3 ± 0,4 se
- Résilience
- Moyenne (1,4 - 4,4 ans)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.0182, b = 2.99
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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