Description
Black Belt Cichlid – Bold Contrast, Big Personality
The Black Belt Cichlid (Vieja maculicauda) is a striking Central American cichlid known for its dramatic appearance and assertive personality. Named for the bold black band that stretches vertically across its midsection, this large and powerful fish features a silver to white body often tinged with red or pink, especially around the belly and fins during breeding.
Native to river systems in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, the Black Belt Cichlid is an active and intelligent species that can become quite interactive with its owner. While it is hardy and adaptable, it can also be territorial and is best suited for spacious tanks with large, equally robust tank mates.
Key Features:
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Coloration: Pale silver or white body with a bold black "belt" across the center and variable red highlights
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Temperament: Aggressive and territorial—best for experienced cichlid keepers
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Size: Grows up to 12–14 inches
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Tank Requirements: Minimum 90 gallons with rocks, driftwood, hiding spots, and open swimming space
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Diet: Omnivorous—enjoys pellets, frozen/live foods, and plant matter
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Compatibility: Best with large, similarly aggressive species—avoid smaller or delicate tank mates
The Black Belt Cichlid is a commanding and visually striking fish ideal for aquarists seeking a bold centerpiece species with a dynamic presence and a flair for dominance.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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