Vieja hartwegi

by Daniel Lesich - This species is extremely intelligent and will often play games. For example, a male i used to keep played hide and seek with me which i found very amusing he also used to take food out of my hand and many times refused to eat if i didn’t feed him this way, they can also be real sooks and hide if they are upset or if their partner was removed or separated.

One of the biggest problems that can arise in keeping hartwegi and many other American cichlids is they are very easily susceptible to hole in the head (HITH) which can be successfully treated with a medication that has the ingredient Metronidazole or using the med Octazine combined with the usage of higher temperatures (30 degrees celcius)is very affective from personal experience. Good water quality and a varied diet will prevent this problem from ever arising, in particular earthworms rolled in brewers yeast have often been touted as a preventative to this condition..

The biggest factor when buying hartwegi is picking out good quality fish. Sadly the quality of this fish has decreased considerably over the years from inbreeding and or crossbreeding. Additionally many hartwegi available these days may be hybrids, so it is important to ensure that the hobbyist gets good stock. So my advice is go out and get a pair as these fish are one of the most enjoyable fish I have kept to date.

Species information

Species: Vieja hartwegi (Taylor and Miller, 1980)

Synoma: Cichlasoma hartwegi, Paratheraps hartwegi, Theraps hartwegi

Origin: Central America

Localities/Morphs:Drainages of the Upper Rio Grijalva, between Tuxtla Gutierrez and Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico.

Maximum size: males 30cm, females 25cm

Natural habitat: fast flowing mountain streams and rivers and inhabits sandy, rocky, silty, and muddy areas. Inhabits all areas within its territorial boundaries. Almost all habitats are largely free of vegetation. Fishes from the same localities include Parachromis grammodes, Profundulus spp., Rhamdia guatemalensis, Poecilia sphenops along with a number of Characins from the genera Astyanax and Brycon (Linke and Staeck, 1995).

Natural foods/prey: Omnivorous, aquatic plants, shrimp, small fish, and insect larvae.

Water chemistry in the wild: ph 7-8, general hardness 10-30 dgH, carbonate hardness 12-18 dkH

Predators: birds, larger fish.

Brood size: anywhere from 100 up to 1000 eggs can be layed in a single spawn

Breeding method: prefers to lay eggs on rocks sitting vertically, but will lay eggs on drift wood and sometimes on the side panel of a fish tank.

Husbandry requirements

Minimum tank size: for a pair of full grown adults 4×2x2 but anything bigger would be preferred.

Sex ratio: 1 male, 1 female.

Tolerance of conspecifics: Poor. They often intolerant of their own kind and can kill other hartwegi if the less dominant fish has no hiding place.

Tolerance of heterospecifics: medium - can be kept in a very large community tank with other large, relatively peaceful cichlids, at spawning times best to remove the pair from the community due to their aggression at these times. A pair will normally begin spawning by picking out a spot in a tank and defending it fiercely.

Water chemistry in aquaria: pH 7.0-8.0, general hardness 12-30 gH, carbonate hardness 4-9 dKH

Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius, can tolerate slightly higher temperatures.

Foods accepted: omnivorous, they will take almost everything offered. Pellets, flakes, live black worm, frozen brine shrimp, frozen blood worm and will eat most aquatic plants.

Special requirements: keeping in mind that hartwegi are very aggressive especially at breeding time plenty of hiding places for the female is a must and if kept in a community separation might also be required.

Many people see the hartwegi a less- than-exciting-washed-out-coloured fish, but this is largely unfounded. While not as brightly coloured as some cichlids, the adult hartwegi has a remarkable mosaic of colours that is quite magnificent. If you’ve never kept a central American I can heartily recommend a pair of hartwegi to any intermediate level cichlid hobbyist.

	Vieja hartwegi by Daniel Lesich - This species is extremely intelligent and will often play games. For example, a male i used to keep played hide and seek with me which i found very amusing he also used to take food out of my hand and many times refused to eat if i didn’t feed him this way, they can also be real sooks and hide if they are upset or if their partner was removed or separated. One of the biggest problems that can arise in keeping hartwegi and many other American cichlids is they are very easily susceptible to hole in the head (HITH) which can be successfully treated with a medication that has the ingredient Metronidazole or using the med Octazine combined with the usage of higher temperatures (30 degrees celcius)is very affective from personal experience. Good water quality and a varied diet will prevent this problem from ever arising, in particular earthworms rolled in brewers yeast have often been touted as a preventative to this condition.. The biggest factor when buying hartwegi is picking out good quality fish. Sadly the quality of this fish has decreased considerably over the years from inbreeding and or crossbreeding. Additionally many hartwegi available these days may be hybrids, so it is important to ensure that the hobbyist gets good stock. So my advice is go out and get a pair as these fish are one of the most enjoyable fish I have kept to date. Species information Species: Vieja hartwegi (Taylor and Miller, 1980) Synoma: Cichlasoma hartwegi, Paratheraps hartwegi, Theraps hartwegi Origin: Central America Localities/Morphs:Drainages of the Upper Rio Grijalva, between Tuxtla Gutierrez and Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico. Maximum size: males 30cm, females 25cm Natural habitat: fast flowing mountain streams and rivers and inhabits sandy, rocky, silty, and muddy areas. Inhabits all areas within its territorial boundaries. Almost all habitats are largely free of vegetation. Fishes from the same localities include Parachromis grammodes, Profundulus spp., Rhamdia guatemalensis, Poecilia sphenops along with a number of Characins from the genera Astyanax and Brycon (Linke and Staeck, 1995). Natural foods/prey: Omnivorous, aquatic plants, shrimp, small fish, and insect larvae. Water chemistry in the wild: ph 7-8, general hardness 10-30 dgH, carbonate hardness 12-18 dkH Predators: birds, larger fish. Brood size: anywhere from 100 up to 1000 eggs can be layed in a single spawn Breeding method: prefers to lay eggs on rocks sitting vertically, but will lay eggs on drift wood and sometimes on the side panel of a fish tank. Husbandry requirements Minimum tank size: for a pair of full grown adults 4×2x2 but anything bigger would be preferred. Sex ratio: 1 male, 1 female. Tolerance of conspecifics: Poor. They often intolerant of their own kind and can kill other hartwegi if the less dominant fish has no hiding place. Tolerance of heterospecifics: medium - can be kept in a very large community tank with other large, relatively peaceful cichlids, at spawning times best to remove the pair from the community due to their aggression at these times. A pair will normally begin spawning by picking out a spot in a tank and defending it fiercely. Water chemistry in aquaria: pH 7.0-8.0, general hardness 12-30 gH, carbonate hardness 4-9 dKH Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius, can tolerate slightly higher temperatures. Foods accepted: omnivorous, they will take almost everything offered. Pellets, flakes, live black worm, frozen brine shrimp, frozen blood worm and will eat most aquatic plants. Special requirements: keeping in mind that hartwegi are very aggressive especially at breeding time plenty of hiding places for the female is a must and if kept in a community separation might also be required. Many people see the hartwegi a less- than-exciting-washed-out-coloured fish, but this is largely unfounded. While not as brightly coloured as some cichlids, the adult hartwegi has a remarkable mosaic of colours that is quite magnificent. If you’ve never kept a central American I can heartily recommend a pair of hartwegi to any intermediate level cichlid hobbyist.	Keeping Cichlids Rare Cichlids Cichlid Names Feeding Cichlids Breeding Cichlids Importable Cichlids Cichlid Hybrids Cichlid Profiles Cichlid Companions --------- New Fish Aquarium Setup Nitrogen Cycle Aquarium Hardness Aquarium Rocks Aquarium Wood Aquarium Plants Non Aquatic Plants Live Food Dyed Fish Freighting Fish Algae --------- DIY Carbon Dioxide DIY Cichlid Food DIY Egg Tumbler DIY Tank Rack DIY Background DIY Fry Nursery DIY Brine Shrimp DIY Alternafix DIY Pot Cave --------- DIY Bucket Filter DIY Simple Filter DIY Trickle Filter DIY UG Filter DIY Fluid Bed Filter DIY Baffle Filter DIY Sponge Filter Corner Filters Filter Carbon FAQ Bio Balls Plenum -------- Aquarium Gallery