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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Viejita dwarf cichlid
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Variations

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Viejita dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma viejita · Viejita, Apisto viejita, Red viejita

Peaceful with small tetras; males territorial towards each other.

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UnknownBody length, without tail ?
23–28 °CTemperature ✓
4.5–6.5pH ✓
54 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Viejita dwarf cichlid is tropical.
  • They need different temperatures (23–28 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (23–28 °C vs 10–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful viejita dwarf cichlid.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 23–24 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 6.5.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

210 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓0–2 dGH
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful with small tetras; males territorial towards each other.

Food

Frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, small sinking pellets and live baby brine shrimp.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males are larger, more colourful and have longer fins. Females are smaller and turn bright yellow with black markings while spawning and guarding fry.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner (harem) · Moderate

Cave spawner: the female guards and tends the eggs and fry; a male kept as a single pair may help guard the fry once they are mobile.

Pairing

Keep one male with 2-4 females; each female claims a cave, pot or coconut shell.

Setup

A 40 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, fine sand, many small caves, terracotta pots and leaf litter, with soft, slightly acidic water.

What starts it

Soft, slightly acidic water, warmer temperatures, frequent water changes and live or frozen foods.

Eggs

40-100 eggs

Raising the fry

The female guards the wrigglers and then the free-swimming fry; feed microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp from day 4-5.

Common mistakes
  • Too few hiding places
  • Hard, alkaline water
  • Several males in a small tank
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionColombia – Meta drainage
Rivers and lakesRío Meta tributaries in eastern Colombia
HabitatSavanna streams and pools
Native rangeAbout 200 km across
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The story of the viejita dwarf cichlid

A dwarf cichlid from the upper Meta (Orinoco) basin in Colombia. Many A. macmasteri are sold as viejita, so check the fish before buying. It needs very soft, acidic water.

Kullander described this species in 1979. It is very close to A. macmasteri, and the two are often confused. Males show bright red patches on the cheeks.

First described by Sven O. Kullander in 1979. Named for Viejita is Spanish for 'little old woman', a local name for small cichlids.

  • It is easily confused with A. macmasteri.
  • Males show red throat and cheek markings.
  • It comes from the upper Orinoco drainage in Colombia.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources