Amatitlania sajica a beautiful color variant in their natural habitat.

A while ago a photo show up of a beautiful color variant of Amatitlania sajica. A favorite cichlid, among many Central American cichlid enthusiasts. When I was near its distribution area, I couldn't resist looking for this beautiful cichlid in its natural habitat. Luckily I found him there, and was even able to capture him on video. From which I edited a small video to share with you. Enjoy.

[@cichlidsid]

Thanks for the footage!

[@MakoyUnggoy]

You captured some great footage there. These Sajica's show such a diverse colouring compared to the usual shop seen variety!

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thank Makoy. yes this is a beautiful color variant of this attractive species. But most interesting is the total color change during the breeding season.

[@aquadudeh2o306]

Super Video - thanks for sharing.

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thanks aqua soon more from CR.

[@aquadudeh2o306]

@@cichlidsinthewild - Great to hear - I vistet Osa although but not for aquatic - the Gobys are amazing - great camera shots congratulations that's really hard work. Greetings from Germany /Bavaria

[@insolentstickleback3266]

I kept these fish in the mid 90’s, they are beautiful and great parents.

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Yes, they are, and an easy fish to keep in our tank.

[@aliclucifera8353]

Awesome fish, Awesome video shoots 👍

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thanks Alic, yes a beautiful species and easy to kept in your tank.

[@johnnygalaxy9022]

Absolutely beautiful video with beautiful music and smooth narration! These are also my favourite Central American cichlids :)

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thanks Johnny, yes the are a really beautiful species with a remarkable color translation during their breeding behavior.

[@WillsAquarist]

Such a fantastic video, really interesting and as mentioned above fantastic narration. Would love to see more videos like this, especially of Central America but enjoying your African adventures too!

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thanks Andrew, there are more videos of CA in my list. And yes there are more to come. Fine you enjoyed this movie.

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Hi Wills, did you enjoyed the video about Neetroplus nematopus.😀

[@thomascallaghan5988]

Brilliant video

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thanks Thomas

[@johnnylilja3687]

Great video!

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thanks Johnny

[@user-th5tv5vy4u]

Impresionante. ❤

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Gracias,habra mas por vernir.

[@olafcichlids3121]

Mooi filmpje hans👍

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Dank je Olaf.

[@stefanroeleven]

Prachtige beelden, 1 van mijn favorieten.

[@twasbrillig33]

you have wonderful voice and a fabulous accent and make for a fantastic narrator. Love the video

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thanks for your compliment, and sorry for my accent as I am Dutch.

[@sureshkumar-pt5qo]

This is the only video of Sajicas in the wild in KZbin, great job! i have Sajicas and have fry will rehome them to a LFS but really like to keep an All male tank in the future.

[@Akvaryumlar]

👍👍👍

[@piotr9590]

Super👍

[@apss5736]

such a cool fish

[@Spacenow869]

Nice

[@69maxrox]

Great video congratulation…at same level of BBC earth documentary!! Would be interestin to film Discus in its natural habitat! Thanks!

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Hi Max, thanks for your compliment . Yes sorry I filmed only in Africa and Central America never in South America. But fine you enjoyed this video as well.

[@bees8390]

Hi Hans, I was wondering, what different forms of sajica have you observed in the wild?

[@Alenquerdiskus]

Hello Hans, what kind of astyanax is in the video? Unfortunately I didn't understand the name... Regards Jan

[@Emilvisan]

Very nice film, but the goby in the video is also interesting. What species is it Hans? ​

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Hi Emil, thanks for your compliment. If you mean the goby around 3:20 that’s what I mentioned Sicydium salvini how is common in Costaricans rivers.

[@Emilvisan]

@@cichlidsinthewild Nice goby, do you know how I can get it?

[@cichlidsinthewild]

No mate, will be difficult as there is no export allowed of live animals out of Costa Rica even it is a difficult fish to keep the become very slim and will finally dye. we tried from Panama

[@Emilvisan]

Too bad, it's beautiful. Maybe it would work to try one more time. maybe together we can keep it. But you know how it is better. ​@@cichlidsinthewild

[@andrescordero3098]

Great video, Whats the name of the river?

[@cichlidsinthewild]

This is filmed in a stream, a small tributary of the Rio Drake.

[@andrescordero3098]

@@cichlidsinthewildthanks

[@WillsAquarist]

Do you know the species of the catfish that appear at 6:35? I've not come across many small-mid sized catfish from Central America so interesting to see! Could be a juvenile of a bigger fish though.

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Andrew my apologies for my late reply. This is Ramdia species. Probably R. guatemalensis how is quiet common in Costricans rivers.

[@Constantine_Cvl8]

Wait, is Sajica not a part of Cryptoheros? Was it revised?

[@cichlidsinthewild]

No Constantine, there was a revision in 2007 by Schmitter-Soto where sajica is placed in a new genus Amatitlania

[@Constantine_Cvl8]

@@cichlidsinthewild Ah, I see. So they're related to convicts ! That just sparked up some ideas. Thank you, Hans.

[@bees8390]

was the first breeding pair in the same waterway as the ones shown at 8:11?

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Hi b e e s, yes the are from the same waterway. In this movie you wil find match more information if you wish. vimeo.com/377267120

[@cichlidsinthewild]

b e e s sorry I made a mistake with Amatitlania nanolutea. Yes those A sajica are from the same river system, that smal stream flows finally in the river Draka.

[@HAWK1986X2]

Hi, is there a way to tell which Vieja Cichlid is a male or female?

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Hi, No there are not any sexual differences within the genus Vieja. Only the males are in general bigger and have a bigger forehead.

[@HAWK1986X2]

@@cichlidsinthewild Thank you. I have caught one juvenile vieja last year, i think is a male, mostly white and orange with a black stripe on the middle. Recently, i caught a different color vieja, still a fry, hard to tell. but most likely to be a different one and seems to be a female with the comments you have provided to me.

[@roelantjonker4360]

What is the name of that loach?

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Roelant, my apologies for my late reply. This is a Ramdia species. Probably R. guatemalensis how is quite common in Costricans rivers.

[@roelantjonker4360]

@@cichlidsinthewild No, I mean the one at 3min.16sec.

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Sicydium salvini

[@TheCorrydoras]

Is this Sajica available in aquarium trade?

[@cichlidsinthewild]

no, this species is not available in the aquarium trade. export of live animals from Costa Rica is excluded.

[@TheCorrydoras]

@@cichlidsinthewild oké jammer dacht dat er inmiddels mondjesmaat wel wat wildvang uit Costa Rica kwam . Prachtige variant lijkt op de inmiddels helaas héél ver doorgekweekte stam uit Europa

[@MrVanboys]

when you talk stop drinking water

[@cichlidsinthewild]

Thanks for the tip.