blackbelt cichlid
Vieja maculicauda
Central American cichlid that tolerates brackish water and is caught commercially. Reaches 25 cm and lives in slow-flowing rivers and lagoons.
Also called: ciclídeo-cinturão-negro, palometa, vieja, boca colorada, blackbelt cichlid
- maximum
- 25 cm
who is the blackbelt cichlid
Cichlid of the family Cichlidae reaching 25 cm. It occurs on the Atlantic slope of Central America, from the Usumacinta River in Guatemala to the Chagres River in Panama, in rivers and lakes. It moves to the lower reaches of river valleys, with slow current, and prefers mud and sand bottoms, sheltering among submerged logs and branches. It tolerates brackish water and even marine conditions, so it also occurs in estuaries. It eats bottom detritus, aquatic and land plants, seeds and fruit. Both parents care for the young. It is caught commercially, farmed in aquaculture and sold for the aquarium trade.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the blackbelt cichlid; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Each spawning has 600 to 1,000 fry, and both parents care for the young.
identification
Robust cichlid, up to 25 cm, from the Atlantic slope of Central America. It lives in slow-flowing rivers, among submerged logs, and tolerates brackish water. The scientific name refers to a spot on the tail. In the same region, guapotes are fish predators, while this species eats mostly plants and bottom detritus, which helps tell them apart.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Atlantic slope of Central America, from the Usumacinta River in Guatemala to the Chagres River in Panama, in fresh and brackish water, with records in Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Habitat: Slow-flowing rivers and lagoons, with mud and sand bottoms and submerged logs, reaching brackish areas.
rules for the blackbelt cichlid
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It poses no danger to anglers, but the fin spines can prick the hand. Hold it by the body, with a wet hand, and release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02692, b = 3.03; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
—
sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Vieja maculicauda (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Vieja maculicaudaNames by country and language.
