Page 149 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

CICHLIDS/ASIAN AND AFRICAN CICHLIDS 147

Nanochromis parilus Pseudocrenilabrus philander
Bar-Tailed Dwarf Cichlid South African Mouth-Brooder

ORIGINS Africa, occurring in the Zaire River basin, ORIGINS Southern Africa, from Angola, southern Zaire,
especially in the vicinity of Stanley Pool. and Mozambique down to South Africa.
1
SIZE 3 in (8 cm). SIZE 4 ⁄2 in (11 cm).
DIET Prepared cichlid foods and live foods. Male DIET Prepared cichlid foods, flake, and live foods.
WATER Temperature 75–82°F (24–28°C); soft WATER Temperature 68–79°F (20 –26°C); hard
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5). (100–150 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0).
TEMPERAMENT Territorial. TEMPERAMENT Aggressive and territorial.
The red streaks on the caudal fin help to
explain why these colorful and attractive Female
dwarf cichlids are described as Bar-Tailed.
These fish can be sexed quite easily, since the
males are larger, and their dorsal and anal fins
also taper to more evident points.
In addition, females tend to have more pinkish
underparts. Their tank needs to be well planted,
and the addition of aquarium peat to the filtration
system is also recommended. Plenty of retreats are Relatively long
important because Bar-Tailed Dwarf Cichlids are pectoral fins
cave-spawners. A female typically lays about 100 The variations in the size and color of these fish
eggs in her chosen cave. She guards them while her reflect their wide distribution. In all cases, though,
mate patrols outside and aggressively chases off only the male, pictured above, shows a red spot
other males. Once the fry are free-swimming, both near the rear of the anal fin and gold on the flanks;
the male and female will watch over them. Small the female is much duller. Decorate the aquarium
live foods are vital for successful rearing at this with plants set in pots and rockwork retreats.
stage, with regular partial water changes becoming South African Mouth-Brooders burrow repeatedly
increasingly significant as the young grow larger. into the base of the aquarium when spawning.

Hemichromis bimaculatus Hemichromis lifalili
EGYPTIAN MOUTH-BROODER
Jewel Fish Lifalili Cichlid
Mouth-brooding is best documented in
the cichlids of Africa’s Rift Valley, but it is ORIGINS West Africa, found in forested areas from ORIGINS Western Central Africa, occurring in various
also a feature of other cichlids in East Africa, southern Guinea to central Liberia. lakes and rivers in Congo and Zaire.
including the Egyptian Mouth-Brooder SIZE 6 in (15 cm). SIZE 6 in (15 cm).
(Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor), shown below. DIET Prepared cichlid foods, flake, and live foods. DIET Prepared cichlid foods, flake, and live foods.
In most mouth-brooders, the female collects WATER Temperature 70–77°F (21–25°C); soft WATER Temperature 72–77°F (22–25°C); soft
the falling eggs in her mouth, where they are (50–100 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0). (50–100 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0).
then fertilized by sperm from the male. In the TEMPERAMENT Aggressive when spawning. TEMPERAMENT Aggressive when spawning.
Egyptian, however, the eggs are laid in a pit
in the substrate and fertilized there, after which The reddish color of these cichlids is offset by
the female gathers them up. The Egyptian lays pale blue spots. Colors become more vibrant in
a relatively large number of eggs—typically the male at spawning time, while the female
about 100—while other species produce only turns darker. Breeding requirements are similar
as many as they can fit in their mouths. to those of the Lilalili Cichlid—well-oxygenated
water and a diet of live foods will improve results.
After hatching, the fry are closely guarded by
their parents and are regularly moved from one
spawning pit to another.
The reddish coloration of these cichlids becomes
even more vibrant when they are spawning. Both
sexes display the three black blotches along the
body, but males may be identified by the presence
of a pattern of fine spots on the sides of the head.
Compatibility can be a problem, but established
pairs will breed readily, with the female laying
up to 500 eggs on a flat rock in a secluded part
of the tank. These should hatch in two days.

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