Blackbelt cichlids

[missyintx_99]

I've been moving fish around again with the recent losses. So, I have both tanks in my bedroom empty. Well, we went and bought a pair of firemouths for the 20g and a pair of blackbelts are now in the 10g. Don't yell at me! They are all itty bitty babies! The firemouths are *maybe* an 1" and the blackbelts are *maybe* about .75" . I have other tanks I can move them to as they grow.
Now, I'm trying to get some info on these blackbelts and I haven't been able to find any. Can someone fill me in! How big do these guys get? What do they eat? Same as all my other cichlids? Whats their aggression level?
Thanks for any info.

 

[juanveldez]

have you checked for info on cons? I have seen them listed as black belt convicts before.

 

[smb]

Yep, Cichlasoma maculicauda, have had quite a few of them in fact. The genus name might have changed lately as most Cichlasomas have and I care not one bit to try and keep up anymore if I don't keep them.

I have seen so many people say they are so mean and aggro. IME, they aren't at all. I put them on the same scale as a jd or Oscar. Which means once in a while you will run across a mean one, but put that one mean one with a cichlid known for aggro and he loses everytime. Doesn't matter tho but just trying to let you know from my own experience.

I've heard they get to 13-14" but the biggest one I ever had was 12" and most were 10-11" at full maturity.

Feed the same as the rest of the cichlids you have. Same temp, everything.

 

[missyintx_99]

Thanks! You confirmed what I was thinking I had read about them, but its been so long ago that I just wasn't sure.
They get a little bigger than I thought, but thats ok. As long as they don't get 18"+, I'm in good shape!

 

[smb]

Well when I say "I heard" 13-14" that means from what others say online. So we all know how to take that. lol Could be true or not. I've never had any that big.

I've even read some sites say that big, but IMO, I feel I know more than most of the pro cichlid sites so I can't substantiate that number to be honest. Not saying it's not true tho, but not likely IME.

Like I said, IME I had 1 that got to 12" but most were about 10" full grown and even had some only 9".

 

[missyintx_99]

I trust your experience on this one :smb: .
Its good to know I won't be needing a 400g tank to keep these babies in for life!

 

[cichlidmaster]

Blackbelts are now Vieja maculicauda.

 

[missyintx_99]

Thank you cm! That will be very handy to know.