Happy Pets

The majority of African Cichlids inhabit the Rift Valley lakes and are spectacularly coloured. These fishes are from naturally hard waters, unlike their South American relatives, and many relish algae or other vegetable matter in their diet. Some are mouthbrooding, and all appreciate a tank furnished with hideaways.

Aulonacara nyassae 150 mm 6 in. Lakes Malawi (Nyasa) and Tanganyika. Has an elongated, fairly deep body. Young males and females have brown bodies with several vertical dark bars, but mature males are deep royal blue with a red/gold suffusion on the flanks, which are crossed with dark bars. The fins are blue ; the dorsal fin is edged with pale blue and the caudal fin has dark blue/black streaks. A peaceful fish, but caves and hiding places must be provided in a reasonably sized tank. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: mouth brooder.

Haplochromis burtoni 130 mm 5 in. Lake Tanganyika and local rivers. The fairly deep and laterally compressed body is typical of the genus, which contains nearly 150 species. The body colour is yellow/ grey, with blue areas forming vertical bands on the flanks. Two black lines cross the snout, and a dark band runs diagonally through the eye. The top of the gill cover has a dark patch, and there is a diffuse red area immediately behind the gill opening. The fins are speckled with red. The dorsal fin has a red edge. The anal fin has 4 to 5 dark-ringed, red or yellow spots. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: mouth- brooder. The female picks up the eggs immediately after laying them in a depression in the gravel. She then attempts to pick up the ‘egg-spots’ on the male’s anal fin and in doing so may stimulate the release of fertilizing milt. This is then drawn into her mouth to complete the fertilization of the eggs. Males take no part in brood care and may be removed from the breeding tank. During the incubation period the female takes no food and becomes quite thin. The fry regard the female’s mouth as a safe refuge after free swimming and return there when danger threatens.

Leopard Cichlid Haplochromispolystigma 230 mm 9 in. Lake Malawi (Nyasa). Has the typical Haplochromis body shape, but with a most striking coloration. The body colour is cream, with brown patches overlaid with a speckling of smaller, brown dots. All the fins carry this patterning, although that on the anal fin again represents ‘egg-spots’. Temperature: 24°C (75°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: as for H. burtoni.

Jewel Cichlid Hemichromis bimaculatus 120 mm 44 in. Throughout Africa. An aggressive fish, whose behaviour is redeemed by its brilliant coloration and exceptional conduct as a parent. The reddish-brown body has an overlay of shining blue-green speckles. There is a black spot midway along the flanks and another on the gill cover. The fins are also speckled. At breeding time both sexes change to a brilliant red colour. This species has often been used in laboratory tests to evaluate fish intellect. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: usual Cichlid pattern ; open site spawner.

Marlier’s Julie Julidochromis marlieri 110 mm 41 in. A very smart- looking fish with a cylindrical, cream body with dark markings that link up to form a latticed pattern. The long- based dorsal fin has light blue edging and flecking. The light blue anal fin has a dark edge. The caudal fin is rounded and has a dark edge bordered with light blue. Hard water must be provided, with rocky retreats. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods, including algae and lettuce. Breeding: deposits eggs on inside roof of cave or on undersides of rocks.

Julie Julidochromis ornatus 80 mm in. Lake Tanganyika. The yellow body has three dark, horizontal bands. There is a dark spot at the base of the yellow caudal fin, which has a dark edge. The dorsal and anal fins are yellow, with black and light-coloured edgings. Temperature: 24°C (75°F). Diet and’ Breeding: as for J. marlieri.

Fuelleborn’s Cichlid Labeotropheus fuelleborni 180 mm 7 in. Lake Malawi (Nyasa). The elongated, blue body has several darker blue, vertical bands. Two dark bands cross the snout. All the fins, except the pectorals, have red areas, and the anal fin carries 2 to 4 oval, dark-edged yellow spots. There is a dark mark immediately behind the gill opening. Females are generally blue, but some are orange, peppered with black dots and blotches. The mouth is somewhat underslung, as this species browses on algae-covered surfaces. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods, including greenstuffs. Breeding: mouthbrooder.

Red-finned Cichlid; Red Top Zebra Labeotropheus trewavasae. 150 mm 6 in. Lake Malawi (Nyasa). The body is blue, with darker, vertical bands. The dorsal fin is bright red/ orange. The caudal fin has some red speckling, and the anal fin bears 2 to 3 yellow spots. Females are usually blue, but speckled versions occur as in L. fuelleborni. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet and Breeding: as for L, fuelleborni.

Lyretail Lamprologus Lamprologus brichardi (formerly Lamprologus savoryi elongatus) 100 mm 4 in. Lake Tanganyika. A very beautiful fish, with a grey/light brown body and dark-edged scales. The gill cover carries a dark stripe, above which is a gold spot. Blue lines adorn the cheek and the blue eye is crossed with a horizontal dark line extending into the gill cover. All the fins are edged with light blue/white. The caudal fin is lyre-shaped, with extended outer rays. The ventral fins have white extensions. The dorsal and anal fins are elongated in the male. This fish appreciates rocky retreats. Temperature: 24°C (75°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: secretive; deposits eggs on walls or roofs of caves. Parental care exercised.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Live your Fish Aquarium, fill some African Cichlids

• Live your Fish Aquarium, fill some African Cichlids continue...
• African Catfishes
• Anemone Fishes and Clown Fishes, Feeding Skill
• Miscellaneous Aquarium Fishes Species
• Aquarium Fishes Headstanders
• Miscellaneous Aquarium Fishes Species continue...
• Damselfishes and Sergeant-Majors/ Family Pomacentridae
• Sucker Catfish
• Livebearing Fishes
• Family Poeciliidae Fish Tank Feeding
• Family Poeciliidae Fish Tank Feeding part 2

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 2:23 am and is filed under Aquarium, Fish, Fish Tank, Pets, Tropical Fish. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.