Apistogramma viejita is a dwarf cichlid in the subfamily Cichlinae, in the tribe Geophagini.

The clutch of up to 100 eggs is deposited on the ceiling of a cave and is tended by the female parent.

In fact, the latter is a very rare fish which is not regularly bred and thus is not commonly available in the trade.

Generally, apistogramma labelled as viejita colour forms are domestic strains of A. macmasteri, some examples of this are “Red Face,” “Red Mask,” “Red shoulder” [citation needed] In the specific name, the author, Sven O. Kullander, is referencing the use of the Spanish word vieja, meaning "old lady", for many species of cichlids in South America.

The diminutive viejita is used for the smaller cichlids in eastern Colombia, although Kullander does not reveal why this is the case.