twoband cichlid
Vieja bifasciata
Cichlid from the Atlantic slope of Mexico and Guatemala, reaching 30 cm and feeding mostly on detritus and bottom plants.
Also called: ciclídeo-duas-faixas, colorada, mojarra panza colorada, twoband cichlid
- maximum
- 30 cm
who is the twoband cichlid
Cichlid of the family Cichlidae reaching 30 cm. It occurs on the Atlantic slope, in the Grijalva and Usumacinta river basins, in Mexico and Guatemala. It lives in lakes, lagoons and the lower reaches of rivers, where the water is calm or has moderate current. It feeds mostly on bottom detritus and plant matter, but accepts almost all plants, from algal filaments to land plants. It produces about 500 eggs per spawning. It is caught commercially and also used in aquariums.
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 twoband cichlid; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Cichlid up to 30 cm from the Atlantic slope of Mexico and Guatemala, of calm waters in lakes, lagoons and lower river valleys. It feeds mostly on plants and bottom detritus, unlike the guapotes and the Petenia splendida, which hunt fish. The Mexican common name refers to its reddish belly.
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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 Mexico and Guatemala, in the Grijalva and Usumacinta river basins, in freshwater.
Habitat: Lakes, lagoons and lower river valleys, with calm water and a bottom of mud, sand and detritus.
rules for the twoband 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
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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 bifasciata (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 bifasciataNames by country and language.
