Fishes Catalogue - African Non-Lake Cichlids
Contents
Whenever African
Cichlids are mentioned the first species that spring to mind for
most fishkeepers in the hobby are the Cichlids of Lakes Malawi and Tanganyika.
However, there are numerous species of African Cichlids that are colourful
and interesting that inhabit bodies of water other than these two Great
Lakes. Unlike the Lake Cichlids, these other species normally require
less extreme water conditions, and usually do quite well in water of
normal hardness and with a pH of around neutral. They will usually be
content with a good quality prepared food, supplemented with feedings
of freeze-dried live foods, such as tubifex or bloodworm.
Perhaps the most familiar of the non-lake Cichlids
are the Kribensis, or Kribs ( Pelvicachromis species), these
are small Cichlids from West Africa, and are usually widely available.
Other species that will do equally well in the small aquarium are the
P. taeniatus, at all times being very colourful and interesting
and a delight to keep for many fishkeepers.
Although rather aggressive when spawning, the Jewel
Cichlids, Hemichromis bimaculatus are another species that has
been very popular for many years, maybe because of their bright red
colours, but their enthusiasm does not compare to that of their larger
less colourful relative Hemichromis elongatus, it’s reputation
precedes it has being one of the more aggressive of the common small
Cichlids.
The Egyptian Mouthbrooder, Pseudocrenilabrus,
is indeed a mouthbrooder just as it’s name implies, and this is interesting
in as much as most Cichlids of Western and Central Africa are substrate
spawners.
Top
| |
Key to abbreviations
|
| F: |
Female |
| M: |
Male |
| C; |
Carnivorous (flesh-eater).
|
| H; |
Herbivorous (vegetarian,
plant eater). |
| L; |
Limnivore (Mud-eater,
bottom feeding on vegetation, algae, worms, etc.
any micro-organisms they may find in the detritus on the bottom).
|
| O; |
Omnivorous (varied diet,
live or recently killed meaty type food and plant material).
|
| FD; |
Freeze Dried. Min. Aquarium
size (minimum). |
| dH: |
degrees of hardness
(on the German scale). |
| KH: |
Carbonate Hardness (a
measure of temporary hardness see
Water
Quality). |
| Temp: |
Temperament. |
Top
| Common Name |
Dwarf Egyptian
Mouth-Brooder
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Pseudocrenilabrus
multicolor |
| FAMILY. |
Cichlidae |
| Origin |
Tanzania, Uganda, along
the Nile to North-East Africa |
| pH |
7.0 |
| Hardness |
6º - 12ºdH |
| Temperature |
75º - 82ºF (24º - 28ºC)
|
| Size |
3ins or 8cm |
| Min. Aquarium |
15 Gal (70 ltr) e.g.
24 x 12 x 15in (60 x 30 x 38cm) |
| Feeding |
C;O; Live, FD, Flake,
Tablet |
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp. |
Often doesn't tolerate
other tank mates, not recommended for beginners |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Rocky formations, caves
to hide in, some open space, some planting |
| Swimming Habits |
Swims All Levels
|
Top
| Common Name |
Purple Kribensis
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Pelvicachromis pulcher
|
| FAMILY |
Cichlidae |
| Origin |
West Africa, Southern
Nigeria |
| pH |
7.0 |
| Hardness |
8º - 12ºdH |
| Temperature |
77º - 80ºF (25º - 27ºC)
|
| Size |
4ins or 10cm |
| Min. Aquarium |
23 Gal (106 ltr) e.g.
24 x 15 x 18in (60 x 38 x 46cm) |
| Feeding |
C;O; Live, FD, Flake
|
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Territorial, comparatively
peaceful, not recommended for beginners |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Rocky formations, caves,
roots, to hide in, some open space,
some planting |
| Swimming Habit |
Swims All Levels
|
Top
| Common Name |
Jewel Cichlid
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Hemichromis bimaculatus
|
| FAMILY |
Cichlidae |
| Origin |
West Africa, Guinea,
Sierra Leone, Liberia |
| pH . |
7.0 - 7.5 |
| Hardness. |
8º - 12ºdH |
| Temperature. |
77º - 80ºF (25º - 27ºC)
|
| Size |
5½ins (14cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
35 Gal (159 ltr) e.g.
36 x 15 x 18in ( 60 x 38 x 46cm) |
| Feeding |
C;O; Live, FD, Flake,
Tablet |
| Reproduction. |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting.
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Territorial, reasonably
peaceful, can become aggressive
during spawning, not recommended for beginners |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Rocks, caves to hide
in, some open space, some planting |
| Swimming Habits |
Swims All Levels
|
Top
| Common Name |
African Butterfly
Cichlid
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Hemichromis thomasi
|
| FAMILY |
Cichlidae |
| Origin |
West Africa, Guinea,
Sierra Leone, Liberia |
| pH . |
7.0 - 7.5 |
| Hardness. |
8º - 12ºdH |
| Temperature. |
75º - 79ºF (24º - 26ºC)
|
| Size |
4ins or 10cm |
| Min. Aquarium |
19 Gal (88 ltr) e.g.
30 x 12 x 15in (76 x 30 x 38cm) |
| Feeding |
C;O; Live, FD, Flake,
some vegetable foods |
| Reproduction. |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting.
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
A territorial but peaceful
species, ok in a community |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Rocky formations, caves
to hide in, some open space, some planting |
| Swimming Habits |
Swims All Levels
|
Top
Fishes
Catalogue
Tolerant
Species
|
