Vieja ID?

[Streetcorner]

This is a fish I snagged from my LFS advertised as a Vieja Hartwegi, not sure on sex. Recently it's developed a deep black color all alongside its underbelly, with prominent barring.

Doesn't act stressed, eats well and is fairly chill. 110g tank, Tankmates 2 Dempseys, 2 Convicts, 1 Firemouth, 1 Gold Severum, 2 Neon Jewels, 1 Crenicichla, 2 Geo Surinamensis and 1 Common Pleco. Parameters are good: 20ppm nitrates, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 7.2 ph.

Any thoughts as to the black belly? I haven't seen that coloration in any other Viega pictures. Is Hartwegi the correct id for this one?

 

[FishingOut]

Definatly a hartwegi. Looks female, but has nice coloration. The black indicates stress. From what? Dont know. Maybee just getting use to the new surroundings.

 

[Streetcorner]

Looks female

I thought the amount of red the fish is showing may point towards male, but the dorsal fin doesn't seem as prominent as what I was expecting in that case.

Guess I could try to vent him/her if I really wanted to know...

The black indicates stress. From what? Dont know. Maybee just getting use to the new surroundings.

Hmmm... it's been in the tank about a month or so, and has colored up really nicely from when I saw it in the LFS. Everyone else seems really happy; heck, this Hartwegi seems really happy outside of this black belly coloring.

 

[Casper2000]

I always thought the black underbelly on these were breeding colors. Possible?

 

[Adhlc]

I always thought the black underbelly on these were breeding colors. Possible?

Yes, or stress. The vertical bars on the side of the fish would also indicate that it is a female. I don't know many species of Vieja/Paratheraps where Males display that.

 

[Streetcorner]

Well I guess the question then becomes: are Vieja likely to spawn with a non-Vieja?

Just the other day, she (sounding like the general consensus so far is female) was shaking her head at my adult male convict (the convict and one dempsey are the only adults in the tank, everyone else is a juvi), pushing him around and rustling around in the tank substrate... I'd *really* rather not end up with a hybrid breeding pair here!

I'll be keeping a close eye on them obviously.