View Full Version : Black Belt (Vieja)
How aggressive are these? Can they be housed in a 90 or more gallon w/other cichlids (Convicts, Dempsy..etc)?
ChilDawg
05-25-2003, 1:25 PM
Hi, and welcome to AC!
Viejas are generally less aggressive than many other C/As, but they get to be large. I think that they are best kept in a species tank or one with less-aggressive fish, but someone else with experience in community tanks of C/As may disagree with me.
They are omnivores, but do better when much vegetable matter is fed to them.
My blackbelt resides with a Midas, pike and convict in a 210. So, yes they can be housed with other cichlids, providing there's enough room for everyone and they all have accepting personalities.
Mine lives with two oscars in a ninety. Everyone gets along fine. They do like their veggies and I can often see mine grazing on the algae covered driftwood. She also loves frozen spirulina but will readily eat shrimp and pellets as well.
Sumpin'fishy
05-25-2003, 7:37 PM
My blackbelt is about 6" and is housed with 4 Silver Dollars (2" to 3" each) and a Blue Crawfish. There used to be a Jack Dempsey in with them, but it died from unknown reasons a few months ago.:(
I have little to no problems with aggression with any of my fish. I also feed plenty of veggies (a large variety too) to keep these fish in good condition. I also use Hikari pellets as the "staple" with frozen foods thrown in at random. Veggies added almost daily, though!