The yellow color variety of the species P. pulcher comes from southwestern Nigeria, where it is collected west of the Niger Delta in the Ethiop River area. The additional color designations yellow, red and green refer to the gill covers in P. pulcher, they all get red bellies.
In all Pelvicachromis, females are considerably more colorful than males. In the wild caught P. pulcher, which we can offer regularly, one can study very nicely the variance of the eyespots in the dorsal fin and caudal fin. The number of spots varies individually between zero and eight.
For our customers: the animals have code 560203 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Of the cichlids endemic to Madagascar, Ptychochromis oligacanthus is also quite well known aquaristically by name. However, the understanding of what is meant by this species has changed thoroughly only a few years ago (2006). Previously it was believed that the species was widespread and divided into four different colored races. Today these races are considered to be independent species. The actual Ptychochromis oligacanthus is restricted to the northwest of the island and the small offshore island Nosy Be. The isolated black spot on the upper half of the gill cover, which does not exist in any other Ptychochromis species, serves as a species identification mark in adult fish. Only Ptychochromis mainty, described as recently as 2015, is similar in this regard, but in this species the spot is associated with a longitudinal band running across the body.
Like so many species of Madagascar, Ptychochromis oligacanthus must unfortunately be considered endangered (Red List of the IUCN: Endangered), because the relatively numerous populations are not in any generic exchange with each other and can therefore die out very quickly locally due to economic use, stocking with foreign fish, environmental events, etc.. Catching for aquaristics has no influence on natural populations, all specimens in the hobby are offspring anyway.
We have just received small youngsters (about 3 cm) of Ptychochromis oligacanthus as German offspring. The parents (photo from the breeder) grow to 15-20 cm. P. oligacanthus is a robust fish with an aggression potential which should not be underestimated. Therefore it is essential to keep it in large, well-structured aquariums in a group from which pairs can find together. Only species that are hardy, such as various catfish, are suitable as community fish.
For our customers: the animals have code 574161 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Cichlids form new species comparatively quickly when placed in geographic isolation. For them, the speciation process often takes only a few decades or centuries, whereas other groups often need millennia. Lake Bermin in Cameroon is a comparatively tiny crater lake with a surface area of only 0.6-0.7 km2. The lake is located in a former volcanic crater, has no inflow but an outflow that drains into the Cross River. There are 9 species of cichlids of the genus Coptodon living in this lake exclusively, all of which can be traced back to a common ancestor. Species differentiation of these Coptodon is extremely tricky, quite obviously the speciation process is not yet complete.
We have now received a number of offspring of cichlids from this lake, which were offered to us as Coptodon gutturosus. The parents of our fish are already offspring. Coptodon gutturosus usually has a deep red breast in its brood care dress, an inheritance from Coptodon guineensis, which is probably the common ancestor of all Coptodon species of Lake Bermin. Our animals are magnificently brassy, with blue, bulging lips and (this is mood dependent) deep black belly ridge. They do not (yet) show the red belly of the parents. Thus they combine characteristics of C. gutturosa, C. snyderae and C. bemini; also C. bakossiorum looks similar. We are very curious to see how this strain will develop further!
None of the mentioned Coptodon species grows larger than 14 cm, C. snyderae becomes reproductive in nature with 2.5 cm length and hardly grows beyond 6 cm, C. bemini reaches the mentioned 14 cm, C. gutturosus and C. bakossiorum stay somewhere in between. So they are small to medium sized cichlids. They see plants as a food component, you have to know that. They are open-breeding cichlids with parental family, which can be compared quite well with more peaceful Cichlasoma relatives (e.g. the Amatitlania species) in their overall behavior.
For our customers: the animals have code 514772 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
The wonderful West African cichlids have been somewhat forgotten in recent decades. In the 1970s and 1980s, on the other hand, they experienced a real boom and a great many new species were discovered at that time because ornamental fish collectors were only too happy to fulfill the aquarists’ desire for previously unseen cichlids. Many species of West African cichlids are magnificently colored. But there are also other, more inconspicuous species, which score for it by an interesting behavior. Chromidotilapia kingsleyae belongs to the latter.
The modern research of this well-known species – it was already scientifically described in 1891 and is at the same time type species of the genus Chromidotilapia – we owe to traveling aquarists with scientific claim, who set out in the 1990s and collected animals in Gabon with a lot of personal commitment and thus made it possible to distinguish similar Chromidotilapia species from each other. They also brought C. kingsleyae with them and so we now know that this magnificent cichlid is a mouth-brooding species in which both sexes can in principle participate in brood care, but the males are polygamous when they have the opportunity. They then spawn with several females, living as if in a harem. The brood care is then left entirely to the ladies.
We have received a few specimens of this highly interesting cichlid from a German breeder. There are no imports from Gabon. Therefore these animals probably go back to the ancestors collected in the 1990s. Our animals are with 6-8 cm length still young, C. kingsleyae is with maximum 15-18 cm length the largest species of the genus.
For our customers: the fish have code 514653 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
There is no doubt about it: the Red Jewel Cichlids, formerly called Hemichromis bimaculatus, are among the most popular aquarium fishes. For several generations of mankind they have been swimming in the aquariums of the world and find again and again new, enthusiastic followers – however also aquarists who swear an oath: never again Red Jewel Cichlids! The latter comes from the unfortunately in individual cases unpredictable belligerence of these fish. Most of them are really sociable, but there are some unbearable troublemakers, which make life hell for all fish in the aquarium. Since this characteristic occurs individually, it is absolutely unpredictable.
The most beautiful red jewel cichlids are those that have numerous blue shiny spots on their bodies, called iriodophores. The distribution of the iriodophores is individually different. In the wild, specimens completely without and those completely covered with iriodophores are found in the same population of several species. This is therefore not a species characteristic, but can be selected by appropriate breeding. Thus, over the decades, aquarium strains have been created that are much, much more colorful than their wild cousins. If these fish have a particularly large number of iriodophores, they are called Lifalili in the hobby.
This is somewhat unfortunate in that the species Rubricatochromis lifalili really does exist. It lives in the Congo. In the trade the “real” R. lifalili hardly ever appears – at least we have not seen it yet.
What you can buy as Rubricatochromis (or Hemichromis) lifalili are either selection breedings of R. guttatus or breeding forms which have their origin in crossing different species. At the moment we have especially nice animals of a wild form selection breeding (R. guttatus) in our stock. By the way, on the pictures you can see very nicely how it comes that these fish can glow in deep red at lightning speed. The body cells, in which the red pigment is located, can be contracted. Then they appear only as fine red dots.
For our customers: the fish have code 536602 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The large cichlids of South and Central America have a firm place in aquaristics. However, aquarists have a mental problem with the no less magnificent large cichlids of Africa. When the name “tilapia” is mentioned in a fish discussion, everyone immediately thinks of gray underwater lawnmowers with carp format.
There is a grain of truth in this prejudice. In fact, many tilapias are mainly herbivores, and some of the important food fish among them, such as Oreochromis niloticus or Sarotherodon galilaeus (this is the biblical fish from the Sea of Galilee) are really no color wonders. But there are also really beautiful animals among the tilapia. Among them is Heterotilapia buettikoferi, a species distributed from Guinea-Bissau to western Liberia. It belongs to the largest tilapias at all, it is said that already 50 cm long specimens have been caught. Normal in nature are 15-20 cm, in the aquarium maybe 30 cm. They become sexually active much earlier. The photographed pair is only 8-10 cm long and started spawning already one day after entering the photo aquarium. There are hardly any external sex differences.
Heterotilapia buettikoferi is an open breeder and forms a parent family. The care is really easy, water values secondary. Vegetable matter (oat flakes, vegetable flake food, over-brooded lettuce) should play a role in the diet, but basically the fish are omnivores; in the wild they are snail-eaters. In sufficiently large aquariums they are usually peaceful animals. Under too cramped conditions, however, they can become real bullies.
We offer H. buettikoferi as offspring from Southeast Asia.
For our customers: the animals have code 576903 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
One of the rarest animals in the world is this Madagascar cichlid, which was only scientifically described in 2006 and already in 2013 it was feared to be extinct. It existed in only one river on Madagascar, the Mangarahara, after which the perch is also called Mangarahara cichlid. A dam project and excessive water extraction for agriculture caused the river to dry up. Along with the river, all the fish that lived in it died. It borders on a miracle that a few living specimens of Ptychochromis insolitus were discovered in a residual water area in the Amboaboa Basin and that breeding succeeded with them. Committed conservationists, including many private aquarists, are now trying to protect this last refuge on Madagascar. At the same time, a conservation breeding program for the fish species is being established.
Both actions are successful. Also we can now offer some offspring specimens of this open brooding fish with maternal brood care. We very much hope that the animals will become part of the conservation breeding program and that the future owners will participate in the Citizen Conservation project (https://citizen-conservation.org/arten/mangarahara-buntbarsch/?lang=en). Because the experience from the past shows on the one hand that it is quite possible to breed fish species healthy in the aquarium over decades, even over a century without inbreeding damages, but for species like the Mangarahara cichlid, which does not necessarily correspond to the ideal image of an “ornamental fish”, special efforts are needed.
Ptychochromis insolitus grows to about 15 cm in length. It is best kept in a group in relatively large aquariums (500l), because this species – typical cichlid – can sometimes be a bit robust against conspecifics. Then it is good, if the beating is distributed on several animals and these also have place to evade. From the troop it is also easiest to find a pair that harmonizes well with each other and finally ensures that the Mangarahara cichlid does not disappear from our planet.
For our customers: the animals have code 574152 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Frank Schäfer and H. Zell
After many years we received again this beautiful pastel colored dwarf cichlid from Guinea. Only in 2009 the species, which belongs to a group of species popularly also called king cichlids, was scientifically determined, before it was known in the hobby as “Pevicachromis sp. aff. roloffi Blue Fin”. The females of this species show – uniquely among all the king cichlids of West Africa – a neon blue shining dorsal fin. Additionally a black spot decorates this fin.
The males look completely different in color. In them, the upper half of the caudal fin and the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin have many spots. Both sexes usually have a dark longitudinal band.
Like all species of the king cichlids formerly grouped under Pelvicachromis, Enigmatochromis lucanusi is a cave-breeder with a biparental brood care, the female being more concerned with care of the spawn and larvae, the male more concerned with territorial defense. When the young swim free and leave the breeding cave, both parents care for the offspring equally.
Enigmatochromis lucanusi is one of the most peaceful dwarf cichlids and is well suited for keeping in community aquariums with smaller tetras, barbs, killifishes and catfishes of the region. Males grow to a maximum length of 8 cm, females to a maximum length of 6 cm. When setting up, make sure the aquarium contains sandy bottom at least in places. Otherwise the aquarium for Enigmatochromis lucanusi should be well planted and contain a lot of dead wood and dead leaves. For breeding the animals need soft and slightly acidic water, for normal care this is not necessary.
For our customers: the animals have code 560492 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Red jewel cichlids are among the most popular aquarium fishes of all. For over 100 years, they have delighted aquarists around the world with their blaze of color and wonderful breeding habits. There is disagreement about the number of species, because these fish are very variable. Until now the red jewel cichlids were known under the generic name Hemichromis.
It has always been known that Hemichromis consist of two very different groups of species, namely the so-called five-spotted cichlids and the already mentioned red jewel cichlids. The five-spotted cichlids were recently (November 2022) subjected to a scientific revision by A. Lamboj and S. Koblmüller. One of the results was that the red jewel cichlids and the five-spotted cichlids are not as closely related as previously thought, but represent different evolutionary lineages. Accordingly, they must be in different genera. Type species of Hemichromis is a five-spotted cichlid (H. fasciatus), so the five-spotted cichlids remain in Hemichromis, while for the red jewel cichlids a new generic name had to be coined: Rubricatochromis. This means nothing else than “red coloured perch”. Type species is Rubricatochromisguttatus.
The following species are now in the new classification:
The species H. frempongi Loiselle, 1979, has already been synonymized with H. fasciatus by Bitja-Nyom et al., 2021.
Rubricatochromis Lamboj & Koblmüller, 2022, with nine described species:
Rubricatochromis bimaculatus (Gill, 1862).
Rubricatochromis cerasogaster (Boulenger, 1898)
Rubricatochromis cristatus (Loiselle, 1979)
Rubricatochromis exsul (Trewavas, 1933)
Rubricatochromis guttatus (Günther, 1862)
Rubricatochromis letourneuxi (Sauvage, 1880)
Rubricatochromis lifalili (Loiselle, 1979)
Rubricatochromis paynei (Loiselle, 1979)
Rubricatochromis stellifer (Loiselle, 1979)
and at least four scientifically not yet described taxa:
Rubricatochromis sp. „Gabon“
Rubricatochromis sp. „Guinea 1“
Rubricatochromis sp. „Guinea 2“
Rubricatochromis sp. „neon“
Literature:
Lamboj, A. & S. Koblmüller (2022): Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the cichlid genus Hemichromis (Teleostei, Cichliformes, Cichlidae), with description of a new genus and revalidation of H. angolensis. Hydrobiologia, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-05060-y
We have received very nice offsprings of this attractive red jewel cichlid (Hemichromis). The animals are 4-6 cm long at the moment and thus just at the border to sexual maturity. Fully grown they are with about 10 cm. Then they are much more high-backed and have a splendid red coloration, which is only indicated at the moment.
A special characteristic of this species, which was found around 2001 in western Ghana by traveling aquarists and brought back – since then it is in continuous breeding – is the broad stripes with green-golden bands on the face, while shiny spots on the body – the so-called iridiophores – are largely absent. Of the scientifically described species, Hemichromis sp. ,,Ankasa” most closely resembles H. paynei.
The care and breeding of Hemichromis sp. ,,Ankasa” is easy and successful even for beginners. Red cichlids can become nasty (but they don’t have to, some individuals are also lamb-like). The rule is: the larger the aquarium, the less aggressive the fish behave towards tankmates. However, if the animals have young, they are not to be trifled with. Therefore, the care in a species aquarium is absolutely preferable to the care in a community tank. Water composition is irrelevant for these fish and they will eat any common ornamental fish food. Plants are not damaged, unless they are in the way of the breeding preparations. Spawning is done on solid objects (stones, roots) in an open-breeding manner, both parents take care of spawn and fry together. The water temperature should be around 24°C, for breeding 2-3°C higher.
For our customers: the animals have code 536913 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Unfortunately imports from the Congo are becoming more and more rare, but when they do come, they usually include humphead cichlids (Steatocranus). There are almost always three species mixed. The strongest and most high-backed of them is S. casuarius, which can be recognized by the black scale centers. It has – due to mood – irregular vertical body bands (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/steatocranus_casuarius_wild_de/). Slightly more slender and with pale scale centers is S. gibbiceps, which shows regular vertical body bands (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/steatocranus-gibbiceps/). Finally, the most delicate and slender of this troop, S. tinanti, which shows two horizontal body bands.
Steatocranus tinanti is a peaceful fish despite its threatening looking massive jaw. It can grow up to 15 cm long, but as a wild caught fish it is already sexually mature with 6-7 cm (male) and 3-4 cm (female). In this size the fish shows very pretty yellow fins. S. tinanti is a typical cave-breeder with pair-bond. The male guards and defends the territory, the female takes care of spawn and young. Any common ornamental fish food is readily accepted, but it should not be too fatty and contain plenty of fiber. Water temperature should be in the range of 24-28°C, water composition (hardness, pH) are largely irrelevant as long as extremes are avoided.
For our customers: the animals have code 575404 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
We have received beautiful offspring specimens of this magnificent Nanochromis from the Congo. Since the experts are not yet agreed whether this species is a color variant of Nanochromis teugelsi or a different species, we have chosen the name Nanochromis cf. teugelsi.
The beautiful dwarf cichlids reach a length of about 7 cm in the male sex, females remain smaller. The sexes are easy to distinguish, as you can see on the pictures. Sandy bottom in places, caves and low-germ water are the basic requirements for successful care and breeding of these beautiful fish.
For our customers: the animals have code 554643 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Our current Congo import contains again two species of the funny humphead cichlids: Steatocranus casuarius and S. gibbiceps. They look very similar to each other at first sight (and we can hardly avoid in wholesale that sometimes a casuarius is among the gibbiceps and vize versa), but when looking closely you can see that in S. casuarius the scale center is dark and in S. gibbiceps it is light. S. gibbiceps is also more slender. The species grows to about 10 cm in length. The frontal hump is only moderately pronounced in S. gibbiceps, but males develop a very elongated dorsal fin.
Humphead cichlids should be kept at least in pairs, in sufficiently large aquariums also in groups, where there is always something going on. They are relatively peaceful, although the immediate area of the breeding burrow is fiercely defended and individual space is also otherwise demanded. Although they inhabit very oxygen-rich water in nature, adaptation to aquarium life is not a problem for them. The water in the Congo is soft, but not overly acidic, so water composition requirements are also easily met. Any common fish food is eaten, but it must not be too fatty (no Tubifex and the like), because this leads to intestinal diseases, which can be fatal. Plants are not damaged, but occasionally they are dug up or bitten away when the animals get into breeding mood. Steatocranus are cavity breeders with parent families.
For our customers: S. gibbiceps has code number 575042 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
Since a long time we received again a Congo import. Beside many other interesting fishes and novelties also the good old acquaintance Nanochromis parilus was among them. These beautiful, assertive dwarf cichlids are very common in the region around the capital Kinshasa. It is astonishing that they were described by science only in 1976. In the hobby they have been known since 1952, however they were initially misidentified as Nanochromis nudiceps (which is a different species).
Nanochromis parilus are river-dwellers, but not rapids cichlids, preferring calmer sections. With a maximum of 8 cm (male) the species remains handy, females even stay smaller. They can be recognized by the broad white band in the dorsal fin. This species is a cavity breeder, with the female caring for the clutch and the newly hatched young, and the male defending the territory. When the young are larger, both parents lead the young.
Care is similar to the closely related Pelvicachromis, but keep in mind that breeding animals can be quite aggressive.
for our customers: the animals have code 554594 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
This dwarf mouth-breeder comes from the middle and upper Congo, from where ornamental-fish-imports almost never reach us. Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi is therefore only available as bred ones. The males are beautiful, the females are rather plain colored. The maximum length is about 7 cm, but also this size is reached rather rarely; the photographed, sexually mature animals are 3-4 cm long.
For our customers: the animals have code 566501 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Red Jewel Cichlids are gorgeous fishes. Their splendid coloration can be hardly topped. And they have a fascinating behaviour. They form a biparental family, both male and female take carefor the offspring together. No real hobbyist can hestitate to be banned by that look. The only negative aspect of these fishes is: they can be really nasty against tankmates, especilally when they have young (and they almost always have young). The degree of aggressivness depends both on the indiviual and on the respective strain.
Hemichromis sp. Red Gabon belongs – technically speaking – to the species Hemichromis stellifer. However there are many differences regarding the coloration between this Gabon population (our specimens are German bred ones) and the population from the Congo, from where H. stellifer has been described scientifically. So prudent people prefer to name the fish „sp. Gabon“. This Red Jewel is extremely colorful and belongs to the more peaceful members of its kind. In our tanks – they are, of course, rather densely populated – hardly ever even a small fin damage can be spotted.
For our customers: the fish have code 537502 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Right now we have German offspring of Red Jewel Cichlids – probably Hemichromis guttatus – in stock, which have a very interesting history. They are descendants of wild catches from Hungary! In Hungary, more precisely in the Hévíz region, there is a thermal lake fed by natural hot springs. It is not known by whom and when, but Red Jewel Cichlids have been released there and they reproduce excellently here. Our breeder brought some animals from there in 2017, which is the origin of the strain we can offer now.
Originally these Red Jewel Cichlids come from Western Africa. However, there have been feral populations of Hemichromis guttatus in artificial and natural thermal waters in several places in Europe for over 40 years, e.g. near Villach in Austria, in the Gillbach near Cologne or in Hungary.
These red cichlids with their numerous blue spots (“Iriodophores”) are already very attractive in a neutral mood, but when they get excited – for example when defending their territory or caring for their brood – they turn a wonderful red and seem to glow from the inside out, fiery like the paprika in their Hungarian homeland!
For our customers: the animals have code 536412 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Benitochromis are closely related to the Pelvicachromis species and can be compared regarding the aquarium biology quite good with these peaceful and colorful cichlids. In contrast to Pelvicachromis, which are cave brooders, Benitochromis are biparental, ovophilous mouthbrooders. This means that both parents take care for eggs and fry; eggs and fry are given from parent to parent several times per day. The eggs are taken in the mouth immediately after spawning (= ovophilous).
There is no common name for this species – which originates from Cameroon, our fish are German bred ones – so far; due to the pretty yellow lips and throat we suggest “Golden Throated King Cichlid”.
For our customers: the fish have code 503062 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Breeding forms are like certain foods: you like them – or not. But it is a fact that the aquarium hobby, like all other areas of domestic animal and plant care, cannot get along without breeding forms.
The albino of the krib, Pelvicachromis pulcher, is a breeding form whose charm is not obvious at first sight. The animals come mostly adolescent into the trade and are then simply white kribs. Well. Now we have full-grown animals in our stock. And the situation is very different. The red and yellow colour elements remain in the albino, only the black colours have been genetically lost. In reproductive mood, both the males and the females of the albino krib look quite wonderfully!
For our customers: the fish have code 559703 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusiveky supply the wholesale trade.
When in 1902 the Dwarf Egyptian Mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor) was imported for the very first time hobbyists were really enthusiastic about it. The mouthbrooding behaviour which lasts in that species a good time longer than the first release from the maternal mouth was simply fascinating for our ancestors to observe.
Some years later – 1911 – a similar species was imported. It became somewhat larger (5-6 cm in P. multicolor, 6-8 cm in the new species) and was determined as Pseudocrenilabrus philander dispersus or Brass Mouthbrooder, sometimes also as Southern Mouthbrooder. This species is much nicer in respect of coloration, but as easy to keep and breed as its cousin.
This fish was studied again 1990. The research resulted in the finding that it was not identical with P. philander dispersus, but an undescribed form, which was named Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae. Since then the same fish swims under both names – P. philander dispersus and P. multicolor victoriae – in the aquaria worldwide. Only very recently it was discovered that a great number of undecscribed species of Pseudocrenilabrus exists. We should wait until the results of that research are published before we should decide how to name the Brass Mouthbrooder correctly.
This is a wonderful aquarium fish with a splendid coloration and a fascinating behaviour. It can be kept very well in planted tanks, for the fish do not harm the plants. Due to the small size the fish also needs no large aquaria. However, one should not underestimate the potential of aggressivness in this golden flasher. One should never keep delicate or sensitive fish along with them.
For our customers: thev fish have code 567002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Danakilia are very strange cichlids that were described scientifically only very recently and were – of course – totally unknown in the hobby, until Anton Lamboj was able to bring some specimens alive back to Austria from Etritrea. He made this expedition together with Giorgio Chiozzi from the Milan Museum. One of the new discovered species could be bred: Danakilia sp. Sukoray, named provisionally after the Wadi where it was collected. For more information of the trip and the biotope, please see the publication „100 Meter unter dem Meeresspiegel: Cichliden aus der Wüste“ by Anton Lamboj, published in Amazonas No 66 (Juli-August 2016).
These fish are the ancestors of the specimens we currently can offer. Our fish are young and young adults, 3-8 cm long.
Keeping Danakilia: it is absolutely necessary to keep them warm. The fish show their temper only at temeratures from 28-30°C. The breeding males become very colourful (black/blue/with a white-yellow hump) – a real eyecatcher! The dominant male will defend a small pit in the bottom; during that period it is always active and displaying. Feeding is absolutely easy, the fish will readily take flakes and frozen food. Best choice is to keep the fish in a group; at least a part of the bottom should be sand to give the males an opportunity to burry the pits. Perfect is a group containing a few males and a greater number of females, the dominant male will become very brillant coloured under these conditions. The tank should be furnished with some roots and stones, but not too much. The swimming behaviour of Danakilia can be best compared with Sarotherodon, eg they are active swimmers and always on move. These fish are female mouthbrooders. The largest fish observed so far are about 12 cm long. If the temperature is too low the fish will look drab. A bright tank with sand, some pebbles and not too small (from 120 cm on) is the perfect home for the active and attractive fish.
For our customers: the fish have code 520211 (3-5 cm) and 520212 (5-8 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Red jewel cichlids are wonderful aquariumfishes despite the fact that sometimes very quarrelsome individuals appear. For scientists the complex of species of red jewel cichlids remains a mess. Many meristic features overlap and additionally many species are highly polychromatic.
Hemichromis exsul has been described scientifically already in 1933 under the name of Pelmatochromis exsul. Type locality was lake Rudolf (now: lake Turkana) in Kenya. Later researchers considered H. exsul to be a synonym of Hemichromis letourneauxi.
This point of view became doubted when Lothar Seegers in 1998 published a photo of a Hemichromis that he had collected in lake Turkana. That fish looked totally different from all Hemichromis letourneauxi known so far. Sadly almost never any freshwater fish from Kenya become exported, so H. exsul stayed a phantom.
Specimens of this species could be sourced for Aquarium Glaser the first time this year. They were bred and we can now offer exclusively the first German bred Hemichromis exsul from there.
Hemichromis exsul differs from all other Hemichromis known so far by the dark, blackish rims of the fins. Moreover the typical lateral blotch exhibited by most red jewel cichlids is missing in most animals. The fish stays rather small and are very peaceful – at least for a red jewel cichlid.
For our customers: the animals have code 536351 (3-4 cm) and 536352 (4-6 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
There are several species of cichlid termed „zebra cichlid“ in the aquarium hobby. However, none of the has a black-and-white pattern like the wild horse, but a green or blue basic colour. Examples are „Zebra cichlid“ from Central America (Amatilania nigrofasciata, formerly placed in Cichlasoma) or the „zebras“ from Lake Malawi (genus Maylandia). A real zebra is the beautiful Tilapia buettikoferi. There is, as far as we know, no other species of cichlid in the hobby that has such a contrasting black-and-white pattern.
Tilapia buettikoferi attains a maximum length of 30-40 cm and is one of the largest species of the genus. In real (!) large tanks this species is an absolute eyecatcher and reminds one in the Tanganyika-humphead (Cyphotilapia frontosa) due to the calm temper. However, T. buettikoferi is an openbrooder with biparental care and very productive.
Tilapia buettikoferi originates from western Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone). Our specimens are German bred ones. The species is omnivorous and the diet should contain larger amounts of plant material.
There does exist some chaos in respect of the scientific naming of that species. This is not the right place to discuss these things, but one should know that the specific name is sometimes spelled buttikoferi (in the original description from 1894 it is spelled with Umlaut „ü“, which not allowed according to the international rules of nomenclature). Moreover the species is sometimes placed in the genus Heterotilapia (an invalid genus name) or Herotilapia (a generic name used for Central American cichlids). Both is wrong.
For our customers: the fish have code 576903 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
We obtained these beautiful and extremely rarely offered dwarf cichlids as bycatches with other fishes from the Congo. Congochromis sabinae was prior to its scientific description known under a number of trade names: C. sp. „Bloody Mary“, C. sp. „Gemena“, C. sp. „Bamanja“ or C. sp. „Makoua, all of them also in the combination with the former generic placement Nannochromis. Only two specimens were found among butterfly barbs (Enteromius hulstaerti) that developed luckily to a very nice pair. Sadly we can offer only this single pair…
Congochromis sp. „Green Speckle“ were among our imports of Microctenopoma ansorgii. We have twice as much of them than of C. sabinae: two pairs! These fish are much larger than out C. sabinae and remind one a bit in Pelvicachromis. Females of C. sp. „Green Speckle“ have a metalic green spot on the hips, which can disappear completely in different moods. By the way: the abilty to change the coloration is phenomenal in this species!
For our customers: C. sabinae have code 554661 on our stocklist, C. sp. „Green Speckle“ code 554684. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very small numbers only!
Prior to its scientific description this species as been known in the hobby under the names of Pelvicachromis sp. „Bandi1“ or „Guinea“. The species can be always easily recognized by the black tailspot of the female. Usally the female has only one black spot in the dorsal fin; the fact that the photomodel from our current stock has two spots in der dorsal bases on an individual aberration. The many spots in the dorsal fin in the male is also species-specific for Wallaceochromis signatus.
The cichlids love to dig! One should keep all these dwarf cichlids always in a tank that contains at least in part a soft sandy bottom. Digging in the sand serves not only to let the fish feel comfortable, but it is also very healthy for them.
For our customers: the fish have code 560454 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in small numbers only!
The maybe rarest of all dwarf cichlids of the genus Pelvicachromis is P. roloffi. So we are very glad that in our current import from Guinea some specimens were included. This species depicts in almost all different moods a clearly visible, horizontal band. The females are – as usual in Pelvicachromis – the more colorful fishes. P. roloffi is a small species. Males hardly grow larger than 8.5 cm, femals always stay smaller.
For our customers: the fish have code 560303 on our stocklist. Please note the we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in small numbers only!
Finally we were able again to organize an import of – inter alia – dwarf cichlids from Guinea. Formerly all these fish were placed in the genus Pelvicachromis, but the species humilis, signatus, and rubrolabiatus have been transferred to the newly described genus Wallaceochromis in 2016. The naming of the different local populations of these fish is somewhat confusing, as by far not all specimens collected together look the same phenotypically. This time we mainly obtained the local variety „Kasewe“. The photos show specimens from our current stock. But we also received other varieties which we plan to show you in the next days.
For our customers: the fish have code 559523 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
We can cvurrently offer a very small number of German bred specimens of a top rarity among the cichlids of western Africa: Benitochromis nigrodorsalis. This species has been described scientifically only in 2001. It originates from Cameroon and the island of Fernando Poo. Prior to the scientific descrption the fish was known as „Chromidotilapia finleyi Moliwe“ in the hobby. The species attains a length of about 12 cm.
Benitochromis is closely related to the Pelvicachromis species and can be compared regarding the aquarium biology quite good with these peaceful and colorful cichlids. In contrast to Pelvicachromis, which are cave brooders, Benitochromis are biparental, ovophilous mouthbrooders. This means that both parents take care for eggs and fry; eggs and fry are given from parent to parent several times per day. The eggs are taken in the mouth immediately after spawning (= ovophilous).
For our customers: the fish have code 503045 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The yellow sport of Pelvicachromis pulcher originates from southwest Nigeria. Here they are collected west of the Niger delta in the area of the Ethiop river. The names Yellow, Red or Green for the different sports of P. pulcher refers to the colour of the opercles; all of them get a red belly at times. In all Pelvicachromis the females are the more attractive fish, P. pulcher is no exception from that rule. One can study in wild collected fish the variation of the eye-spots in die dorsal fin of the females, which can differ individually from zero to five.
For our customers: the fish have code 560202 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
If the only thing a hobbyist cares for for be the coloration, we would hardly need other species than Jewel Cichlids. The „Neon“ is an artifical sport, most probably bred by crossing different species and selection. The blue iridescent spots, present in most species of Hemichromis, are much larger in the „Neon“ sport. With respect to the body shape, the „Neon“ is closest to H. guttatus.
But colour is not everything. Sadly all Jewel Cichlids have in common that it is impossible to know wether an individual will be peaceful or agggressive. Within one species both types of behaviour can appear. Some specimens are lambs, others are wolves.
However, the breathtaking splendid coloration and the really wonderful family life of these cichlids are worth the risk!
For our customers: the fish have code 537142 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Dwarf cichlids from western Africa are bit out of fashion currently. Nobody knows a real good reason why, as usual in fashion. However, anyone who sees the gorgeous Pelvicachromis taeniatus “Nigeria Red” we can offer right now as German bred ones, will become crazy for a new fashion immediately and place a tank with these beauties in the fishhouse.
For our customers: the fish have code 562304 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Pelvicachromis: Latin, means about “Chromis with a specially coloured pelvis”; Chromis is an old catch-all name for perches. taeniatus: Latin, means “striped”.
Common name: makes no sense, the fish is commonly known by enthusiasts as the “taeniatus Nigeria red”.
There is most probably no other species of fish that is so much loved on the one hand and so much hated on the other: the Nile Mouthbrooder, often called simply „Tilapia“. As a food fish this omnivorous species – plant matter forms a large part of the diet – can be cultured even in the poorest countries of the tropics. Here the Tilapia changes worthless stuff in precious fish protein. But specimens that escaped in the wild or that were released became worldwide the most serious alien pest species of freshwater fish at all.
Oreochromis niloticus is only very rarely kept in private aquaria. The fish can grow to a maximum size of about 50 cm, but is mature already at a size of 6-8 cm. It is a maternal mouthbrooder. Currently we can offer nice, 6-8 cm long specimens that were bred by European aquarists.
For our customers: the fish have code 555503 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Nanochromis
parilus is a species of dwarf cichlid that originates from the Congo
region. Usually we offer this species as wild collected ones. But
currently we found a breeder that can supply us with fully grown, very
healthy, gorgeous animals.
It
is quite interesting that among these bred fishes two types of males
appear. Some males have a red pattern in the lower part of the caudal
fin, others not. Formerly it was thought among aquarists that these
differences in caudal fin pattern could be used to separate N. parilus
from a closely related species, namely N. nudiceps. However, nowadays we
know that N. nudiceps has an overall different look.
For
our customers: the bred N. parilus have code 554584 on our stocklist.
Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
One
expects cichlids of the Haplochromis relationship rather in eastern
Africa than in the Congo region. However, a few species appear there.
Three species of the genus Ctenochromis (formerly placed in
Haplochromis) live in the Congo. They are quite common in their habitat,
but hardly ever exported. So they belong to the top rarities in the
aquarium.
Ctenochromis
polli is not particular colourful; but the blood red throat of the
male, combined with the bright blue lips and the hump on the head make
this dwarf cichlid – the species becomes only about 8 cm long – quite
attractive. These cichlids are maternal mouthbooders.
For
our customers: the fish have code 532103 on our stocklist. Please note
that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited
numbers only!
Our
current import from Guinea contained also two “classical” red jewel
cichlids. They were sent under the names of H. letourneauxi and H.
cristatus, respecively. Initially we fully agreed with those
determinations. The H. letourneauxi showed all features typical for the
species, eg the comparatively elongate body and the lateral spot placed
comparatively far in direction of the caudal. But now, after three
weeks, we have doubts in respect of the H. cristatus. Indeed most
specimens show the bright golden ring around the lateral spot, which is
so typical for H. cristatus. But all other features indicate rather that
the “H. cristatus” are also a colour variety of H. letourneauxi,
although they also have a larger amount of shining spots (iriodophores).
A
very special feature in our new importations is the appearance of
specimens with a double spot on the flank. Moreover, the spot often runs
up to the dorsal. Both features are very unusual for Hemichromis.
However, the double spot usually appears only on one side of the body,
on the other side is only one spot. Moreover, if one observes only
enough specimens, one can find any thinkable transition between these
extremes and “regular” H. letourneauxi. Nevertheless it is possible that
our new importations represent a species new to science.
Our
largest specimens are about 8 cm long. Animals with a length of about
4-5 cm are sexually differentiated already. However, one must be aware
that these fish will reach a total length of 10-12 cm in home aquaria,
maybe even 15 cm in extraordinary old and large males.
For our
customers: the fish have code 536502 (letourneauxi variety) and code
536322 (cristatus variety) on our stocklist. Please note that we
exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
In
this very attractive variety both sexes have a bright yellow basic
colour. In males, the caudal fin is spotted, ventral fins and anal fin
are red. An unique feature for this form is the eye. The upper half of
the iris is bright red in males and brass in females!
For our customers: the fish have code 559604 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Pelvicachromis signatus
This
form has been described as a separate species on its own in 2004. It
can be recognized at the first glimpse due to the unique spotted pattern
of the female. They have a block spot in the centre of the dorsal fin
and another black spot on the caudal peduncle. The males look not that
different from other P.-humilis-relatives, but can nevertheless always
identified by the coloration of the dorsal fin: and red-and-white seam
and dark dots in the dorsal fin cannot be found in any other
P.-humilis-relative.
For our customers: the fish have code 560454 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
This
variety has the following characteristics: in males, the caudal fin is
yellow without any pattern, the ventral fin blue and the dorsal fin has a
red border. The horizontal stripe seems to be composed of spots. The
dorsal fin of the female is bright yellow and has black spots in the
upper backward part of the spiny part of the dorsal. The change of
coloration in excited females is dramatically. The initially yellow face
mask changes over green to almost black, the horizontal stripe
disappears and the belly glows in yellow-pink.
For our customers: the fish have code 559533 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Pelvicachromis humilis “Falesade”
This
impressive variety is almost identical with P. humilis “Dikinyah”.
Males differ from that variety by the colour of the anal fin, which is
red flamed in “Falesade”. Both sexes of “Falesade” have a violet tinge
all over the body.
One
should keep all these P.-humilis relationship in spacy aquaria with
fine sand as bottom and caves for breeding. It is important to keep them
not too warm: 22-24°C are the best choice.
For our customers: the animals have code 559593 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Our
current import from Guinea contains five different species/morphs of
the relationship of Pelvicachromis humilis. They all have in common that
the males can reach a maximum length of 12 cm. Females always stay
smaller. The latter are the more colorful animals, there is always a
clearly marked sexual dichromatism. During mating and displaying the
colours change drastically: the fish seem to glow from inside in these
situations.
Pelvicachromis
humilis “Liberia Red” was collected, as can been seen from the name, in
the border region between Liberia and Guinea. All our fish were offered
under the respective names from Guinea. The fish known in the hobby in
the 1990ies under the name Pelvicachromis humilis “Liberia Red” seems to
represent another, different variety/species. In males of our current
import there is a red pattern in the caudal fin. The remaining
coloration differs a lot, depending on the mood. The bright shining zone
on the belly of the female, which is present in all forms of the
P.-humilis-relationship, is expressed very intensively in Pelvicachromis
humilis “Liberia Red”.
For our customers: the fish have code 559554 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Many
of the endemic species of cichlid from the island of Madagascar are
endangered of extinction. This is due to destruction of the natural
environments and the release of foreign fish species for food purposes.
Sadly most of the Madagascar cichlids could not yet established as
aquarium fish. An exception from that rule is the splendid Paratilapia
polleni. The juveniles still look rather drab coloured, but in a large
tank they will develop to breathtaking beauties – try it out!
For our customers: the fish have code 559051 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
For
the first time ever we can offer German bred specimens of this
beautiful and unusual large cichlid. The parents have been imported from
the Congo. Keeping and breeding were successful under the following
conditions: total hardness 14°, pH 7. The sexes show a clearly visible
sexual dimorphism at an age of about 1.5 -2 years. Dominant males are
fully developed after 3 years (at least I don´t believe that they will
change anymore, I do own the fish only 3-4 years). At this age they are
about 30 cm long. Females are only 20 cm long at this age. For
additional differences between the sexes, please see the photos.
These
beautiful fish do not only look a bit like Geophagus from South
America, also the behaviour is comparable. The feeding habit is similar
to Geophagus: fine sand is sieved by the fish for food and the
particular food particles the fish feed on are comparatively small. My
fish get granulates, flakes, and frozen white and black mosquito larvae.
Dominant males are territorial.
There
are also parallels to Geophagus in respect of the breeding behaviour.
Tylochromis cf. lateralis are ovophilous, maternal mouthbrooders. At
least my wild collected fish spawn only seasonally. However, it is too
early to say anything about this in respect of bred specimens. Currently
only a F1 has been bred.
For
our customers: the fish have code 586353 on our stocklist. Please note
that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited
numbers only!
Text: Christian von Holtum, photos: Christian von Holtum and Frank Schäfer
Once more a change of names of well-known aquarium fishes appeared. The different forms of Pewlvicachromis taeniatus have been regarded for decades as mere colour varieties of the very same biological species. But now a new study has been published which laces almost all “varieties” from Cameroon under the taxon Pelvicachromis kribensis. Only one “variety” from Cameroon has proofed to be so outstanding that a new species, namely P. drachenfelsi has been described for it. This fish was known in the hobby until now under the name of P. taeniatus “Wouri”. The name P. taeniatus should be used from now on only for fishes from Nigeria, but it seems that even this is not the last word to be spoken on that fish.
All species and forms mentioned above are very beautiful, easy to keep aquarium fish. We currently have some wild collected P. kribensis from Cameroon (collected from Nyete, code 562502 on our stocklist, and Bipindi, code 562702) in stock. We also have bred “real” P. taeniatus, a very pretty variety called “Nigeria Red Cheek” (code 562333) and the classic “Nigeria Red” (code 562302). The pictures show wild collected specimens of P. taeniatus that reached us a bycatch from the Benue river in Nigeria. The fit best to the colour variety known as “Nigeria Yellow” in the hobby.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature:
Lamboj, A. , D. Bartel and E. Dell’ampio (2014): Revision of the Pelvicachromis taeniatus-group (Perciformes), with revalidation of the taxon Pelvicachromis kribensis (Boulenger, 1911) and description of a new species. Cybium v. 38 (no. 3): 205-222.
We
have some wild collected specimens of Benitochromis riomuniensis from
Cameroon in stock. Benitochromis is closely related to the
Pelvicachromis species and can be compared regarding the aquarium
biology quite good with these peaceful and colorful cichlids. In
contrast to Pelvicachromis, which are cave brooders, Benitochromis are
biparental, ovophilous mouthbrooders. This means that both parents take
care for eggs and fry; eggs and fry are given from parent to parent
several times per day. The eggs are taken in the mouth immediately after
spawning (= ovophilous).
There
is no common name for this species so far; due to the pretty yellow
lips and throat we suggest “Golden Throated King Cichlid”.
For our customers: the fish have code 503053 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The Five Star General has a very wide distribution in western Africa and is one of the most beautiful species of cichlid at all. Sadly it is also one of the most aggressive species of cichlid and this is the reason why it is only very rarely seen in aquaria. The photographed specimens originate from the Benue river in Nigeria and are still youngsters.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Currently we can offer a great number of wild collected varieties of P. taeniatus from different localities in Cameroon. The local variety from Bipindi is characterized by a high degree of yellow colours, the females get a wonderful blue belly when displaying.
For our customers: the fish have code 562702 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Pelvicachromis: the Latin word pelvis means “pelvis”; chromis is another genus of perch; the generic name refers to the coloration of the belly. taeniatus: means “striped”.
Finally we were able once more to import this pretty dwarf cichlid (males become 7-8 cm long, females stay 15-25% smaller) from Nigeria. Before its official description under the name of P. silviae the species has been known by hobbyists for about 40 years as Pelvicachromis sp. aff. subocellatus.
For our customers: the fish have code 560513 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
This medium sized cichlid reaches a maximum length of about 12 cm. The very beautiful fish are pair-bonding oviphilic mouthbrooders.
In repect of water chemistry the species is astonishingly adaptable. One should keep them in larger aquaria, for the fish can be become quite gruff against each other.
For our customers: the fish have code 503013 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Benitochromis: named after the Benito river in Rio Muni (Equatorial Guinea). finleyi: dedication name for Lee Finley.
We received from a German breeder these pretty Jewel Cichlids. The fish cannot assigned to any species that is scientifically described. Possibly it represents a hybrid. If so, it is a very well done cross! The lateral spot that is so typical for most species of Jewel Cichlid is missing completely. The bright red lips are real eyecatchers, so we chose the name Hemichromis sp. Firelips.
For our customers: the animal has code 536753 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
We obtained beautiful bred specimens of this charming dwarf cichlis. Males of the species becomes around 6 cm long, females stay smaller. This makes Nanochromis transvestitus one of the smallest cichlid species at all.
The species originates from the Lac Mai Ndombe region in the D.R. Congo. In contrast to most other congolese fishes, N. transvestitus is adapted to very soft and acidic water (pH 4.5) However, aquarium strains are less sensitive to other conditions than wild collected specimens, but nevertheless the species is much less susceptible to various diseases when kept in acidic water.
Otherwise keeping the fish is problem free and the species is very attractive. Like all species of Nanochromis it is an cave brooder. Females care for eggs and brood, males defend the territory. Males and females can be easily told apart by the pattern of the fins. The courtship behaviour is spectacular. Both sexes display with mouths wide open and maximum spread fins. Females additionally display a very strange looking S-shaped body.
For our customers: the fish have code 555002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Nanochromis: means “small Chromis”; Chromis is another genus of fish. transvestitus: means “transvestite”; this name refers to the fact that the males are much less colorful than the females; usually in the animal kingdom this is the other way round.
Suggestion of a common name: Congolese zebra dwarf cichlid
This small species of cichlid attains a maximum length of about 10 cm. It belongs to the so-called red cichlids, but has a lilac basic body coloration. The species lives exclusively in the Lac Mai Ndombe in the D. R. Congo. There are usually no commercial importations of this species from that lake and so the fish is available only very occasionally. Our specimens are German bred ones. Typical features of Hemichromis cerasogaster are the golden face masc and the black spot in the dorsal fin, which is present in both sexes. This beautiful Hemichromis is told to be comparably peaceful.
For our customers: the animals have code 536202 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
For the first time ever we can offer this type of humphead cichlid. The scientifically still undescribed species represents the smallest member of the genus Steatocranus. Males can attain a maximum length of about 8 cm, females stay smaller. The fish originate from the Congo, but our fish are German bred ones.
For our customers: the animals have code 575453 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
For the first time we can offer this scientifically still undescribed species that originates from the Congo. It represents the smallest and most slender species of humphead cichlid known so far. Males are sexually ripe at a length of about 6 cm, females at about 5 cm. Our fish are German bred ones.
Fort our customers: the animals have code 575352 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
This is another, very nice dwarf cichlid from western Africa, available even with the name of the collecting site. We have fully grown and wonderful coloured specimens in stock.
For our customers: the fish have code 560363 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very limited numbers only!
Lexikon: Pelvicachromis: the Latin word pelvis means “pelvis”; chromis is another genus of perch; the generic name refers to the coloration of the belly. rubrolabiatus: Latin, means “with red lips”.
Suggestion of a common name: Vinered Dwarf Cichlid
Text & photo: Frank Schäfer
This beautiful sport of P. humilis is available only very occassionally. We received them in an ideal size (5-8 cm). They have already very nice colours!
For our customers: the fish have code 559554 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!
Lexikon: Pelvicachromis: the Latin word pelvis means “pelvis”; chromis is another genus of perch; the generic name refers to the coloration of the belly.
humilis: Latin, means “depressed”.
Suggestion of a common name: Splendid King Cichlid
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Dwarf cichlids from western Africa are bit out of fashion currently. Nobody knows a real good reason why, as usual in fashion. However, anyone who sees the gorgeous Pelvicachromis taeniatus “Nigeria Red” we can offer right now as German bred ones, will become crazy for a new fashion immediately and place a tank with these beauties in the fishhouse.
For our customers: the fish have code 562304 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Pelvicachromis: Latin, means about “Chromis with a specially coloured pelvis”; Chromis is an old catch-all name for perches. taeniatus: Latin, means “striped”.
Common name: makes no sense, the fish is commonly known by enthusiasts as the “taeniatus Nigeria red”.
We recently received this beautiful dwarf cichlid from Guinea. The species is a close relative of P. humilis and was known in the hobby as P. sp. “Bandi 1” before its scientific description.
Maximum size in males is around 10 cm, females stay always smaller. As in almost all Pelvicachromis there is an extreme sexual dichromatism. Persons that are not educated in the hobby can easily think that males and females belong to different species. The spot on the belly of the females looks incredibly; there is already a saying in our fishhouse that goes like this: “who has put the lamp inside the belly of this fish?”
These fish originate from forest creeks and should be kept at comparatively low temperatures, around 22 to 24°C, and soft and slightly (!) acidic water. It is important to offer the fish sand as gravel, for they love to dig.
For our customers: the fish have code 560454 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Pelvicachromis: the Latin word pelvis means “pelvis”; chromis is another genus of perch; the generic name refers to the coloration of the belly. signatus: Latin, means “signed”. humilis: Latin, means “depressed”.
Currently we have a limited number of the very rare cichlid Teleogramma brichardi from the Congo in stock. For our customers: the fish have code 576303 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Currently we have a limited number of the very rare cichlid Teleogramma brichardi from the Congo in stock. For our customers: the fish have code 576303 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Currently we have extreme beautiful Tropheus sp. “Yellow” in stock which already display bright colours when young!
For our customers: the fish have code 586302 on our stocklist. Please note that w exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Most hobbyists think about the cichlids of Lake Tanganyika when they hear the generic name Lamprologus. But there do exist also some species of river-dwelling (= riverine) Lamprologus. The most attractive species among them is without any doubt Lamprologus werneri, which we were able to import now once more. The slender fish is spread all over with silver spots.
Keeping these fish in aquaria is comparable to the well known humphead cichlids (Steatocranus). Like those L. werneri are current-loving, bottom-orientated cave brooders. A strong current in the tank is very important, as in quiet water the fish behave very aggressive against each other what is not the case in water with a strong current.
The sexes can be best distinguished by the shape of the dorsal fin, which is more elongate in males. L. werneri can change its coloration dramatically and one often may believe to observe different species instead of only one.
This is probably the reason why there is quite a lot of confusion in the hobby-literature regarding the determination. Our shipment of L. werneri contained also some specimens of L. tumbanus (a stout fish with a very large head and a slight pattern in the caudal fin, no light spots), L. teugelsi (very similar to L. tumbanus, but more slender, no pattern in the caudal fin), and L. congoensis (coloration like L. werneri, but much deeper-bodied).
For our customers: L. werneri has code 550403 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Lamprologus: means “the one that wears gloss”; refers to the shining spots on each scale of L. congoensis, the type species. Steatocranus: composed of an ancient Greek and a Latin word, means “fat skull”. werneri: dedication name for A. Werner, Munich. tumbanus: after Lake Tumba, the type locality. teugelsi: dedication name for Guy Teugels (1954 – 2003). congoensis: after the collecting site, the Congo river.
Common name: Werner´s ground cichlid
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature: Schelly, R. C. & M. L. J. Stiassny (2004): Revision of the Congo River Lamprologus Schilthuis, 1891 (Teleostei: Cichlidae), with descriptions of two new species. American Museum Novitates No. 3451: 1-40.
This is another, extreme beautiful variety of that gorgeous dwarf cichlid from Western Africa: Pelvicachromis taeniatus “Nigeria Yellow”. Initially the animal originates from the surroundings of the Nigerian city of Lagos, but we have in stock fully grown adult bred ones. The bright golden breast and the very long finnage make Pelvicachromis taeniatus “Nigeria Yellow” real eye catchers.
For our customers: the fish have code 562314 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Pelvicachromis: Latin, means about “Chromis with a specially coloured pelvis”; Chromis is an old catch-all name for perches. taeniatus: Latin, means “striped”.
Common name: makes no sense, the fish is commonly known by enthusiasts as the “taeniatus Nigeria yellow”.
This beautiful cichlid from Lake Tanganyika belongs to the dwarf cichlids. Males become around 5.5 cm, females around 3.5 cm long. At the first glimpse one would think that these tiny fish are “snail brooders”, e.g. that the females would spawn only in empty snail shells. However, this is not true. In their natural habitat these cichlids settle on muddy bottom. Here they dig tubes in the ground of about 1 cm diameter which can be up to 12 cm long. Although L. signatus accepts empty snail shells in the aquarium this is only an “emergency program”, which is used in case they have no other opportunity. In contrast to almost all other species of Lamprologus the eggs of L. signatus are not adhesive at all. This is a special adaption to their type of breeding, as there is no opportunity nor any benefit in attaching eggs in a mudhole.
Keeping Lamprologus signatus is very easy. The males are very aggressive against each other, so it is best to keep the fish by pair or one male with a number of females. Like all cichlids from Lake Tanganyika L. signatus prefers hard, slightly alcalic water and temperatures of about 25 to 28°C. In nature they feed on small animals, in the aquarium they accept readily any type of usual fishfood that fits the mouth.
For our customers: the fish have code 549401 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Lamprologus: means “the one that wears gloss”; refers to the shining spots on each scale of L. congoensis, the type species. signatus: Latin, means “the marked one”.
Suggestion of a common name: Tanganyika Zebra Dwarf Cichlid
This extreme beautiful small cichlid has changed its name quite often. Initially it was introduced to the hobby under the name Pseudocrenilabrus philander dispersus. The natural distribution area of this subspecies is Uganda.
Only bred specimens are traded. The fish are agamous maternal mouthbrooders, which means that the males and the females do not build up pairs for a longer period and that the female alone takes care for the brood. In contrast to many other species of mouthbrooding cichlids the female even picks up the freeswimming youngsters in case of a potential danger. This unique type of broodcare belongs to the things every enthusiast should have observed at least once in life.
Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae becomes sexual active at a length around 5 cm, but very old specimens might reach even 10 cm. Usually the size of fully grown fish is in between the two extremes, e.g. 7-8 cm. The tank for Pseudocrenilabrus should contain parts with fine sand, for here the male builds up the nesting pit. Plants become destroyed only in case they are in the way. Pseudocrenilabrus are completely undemanding regarding the water chemistry and food, keeping and breeding thus is pretty easy and can be done even by beginners.
For our customers: the fish have code 566403 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Pseudocrenilabrus: from ancient Greek, means “false Crenilabrus”. Crenilabrus is another genus of fish. multicolor: Latin, means “with many colours”. victoriae: refers to Lake Victoria, where the species occurs.
Among the snail-dwelling cichlids of Lake Tanganyika are some species that look very much alike and in some cases it remains still unclear whether the scientific name applied on them is correct or not.
Neolamprologus meeli has been described in 1948 by Max Poll from a place near Katibili which belongs to the Congolese part of the lake. The species is very similar to N. boulengeri and N. hecqui. The three species have in common the black borders of the fins.
There is a lot of discussion, if the species kept and bred in the hobby under the name of Neolamprologus or Lepidolamprologus meeli “Zambia” really belongs to that species or represents a colour variety of hecqui. However, it is of much more interest for aquarists that the fish is beautiful and a perfect tankmate for any Tanganyika aquarium.
Male become around 7 cm in length, females stay about 2 cm smaller. In this species mainly the females use the empty snail shell as a hiding place.
Snail-cichlids are a specialty of Lake Tanganyika. Of course also other places on earth exist where empty shells of snails are used by fish for hiding or breeding. But nowhere else than in Lake Tanganyika are so many specialized species.
In Lake Tanganyika real fields of empty snail-shells exist. Empty shells that lie here and there, more or less solitary, are settled by the specialized snail-cichlids, for example Lamprologus ocellatus and Co. But in places where the already mentioned fields of empty shells exist they are also used by species that are usually regular cave brooders.
Telmatochromis temporalis is a medium sized cichlid (10-12 cm) that settles along the whole lake. It is not very popular in the hobby, for it has a rather dull coloration and is quite robust in its behaviour. It is a typical cave brooder with a parental family. Interestingly the species has developed a dwarfish variety in areas where large snail-shell fields occur. This dwarf form becomes only 5-6 cm long. Currently this variety is considered to be conspecific with the normal form which is the reason for giving it the additional name “shell” in the hobby.
In contrast to the normal form this dwarf is highly demanded in the hobby, because its unusual shape brings a very interesting aspect in each community tank for tanganyika cichlids.
Adult pair of S. casuarius. Photo: B. Migge / Aqualog Archieves
The humphead cichlids of the genus Steatocranus are among the most intersting cichlids of Africa. They are highly adapted to current water – in nature they live near rapids on rocky ground. So they have reduced their swimming bladder and are not able anymore to swim free in the water column without using their finneage.
S. casuarius
Three species have been imported now: the well-known Steatocranus casuarius, which can easily be recognized by the black centre of each scale; the more slender S. gibbiceps, whose coloration is just the other way round: light centres of the scales. And the extremely slender S. tinanti, which has sometimes brillant orange fins.
S. gibbiceps, male
S. gibbiceps, female
Humphead cichlids should be kept in pairs. They are quite peaceful, although they desperately defend their cave. Despite the fact that they live in very oxygen rich water in nature they readily adapt to aquarium conditions. The water in the river Congo is soft, but not very acidic. The fish feed on almost all usual fish food, but one must never give fat food (like Tubifex). This may cause heavy, sometimes fatal diseases of the intestine. Plants are not distroyed with the exception of the fact that during breeding they may be bitten of or digged out. Steatocranus are cavebrooders with biparental care.
S. tintanti, male
S. tinanti, female
For our customers: S. casuarius have codenummer 575003, S. gibbiceps 575042 and S. tinanti 575403 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.
Actually we can offer very pretty Tanganyika Clowns, Eretmodus cyanostictus, from Makombe. Like so many other cichlids from the lake they have developed a lot of different geographical varieties.
Eretmodus are highly specialized fishes. In the wild they live in the very shallow water of the shore. Here, in the surf, they feed on aufwuchs. This means that they have a very long gut that enables them to digest this poor food. In the aquarium it is often a fatal mistake to feed them fat and protein rich food. The Clowns need also relatively high temperatures (around 28°C) and they love a heavy current.
Tanganyika Clowns have a reduced swimming bladder and are therefore unable to float in the water column. As they are somewhat quarrelsome it is best to keep them in pairs. Females usually stay smaller than the males. In the aquarium Tanganyika Clowns often form stable couples. They are biparental mouthbrooders. Male and female change eggs and fry from mouth to mouth. This makes a high degree of synchronizity necessary and that is the reason why Eretmodus are not often in the mood for changing their partners.
They come from the crater lake Bempazawa on the island Nosy Be nearby Madagascar and we have few of them available for first time: Ptychochromis oligacanthus “Bempazawa”. Their final length is more than 20 cm, but with their current size of about 15cm, they already reached sexually maturity. They have no special demands for food and water chemistry also their aggression is low. For cichlid lovers they are surely an interesting enrichment and guarantee a certain exclusiveness for their owner.
With Nanochromis sp. “Lezas” we can offer a further highlight of German bred fishes. As at the before introduced species this dwarf cichlid is hardly to be exceeded in colour and quality. Particularly noticeable is the strong red colouring of the dorsal – and the upper parts of the caudal fin. In dark, peat-coloured water their rich colouring becomes notably effective. Unfortunately they are available only in a limited number and so they will have left our fish house soon.
From the shores of lake Tanganjika orgins (Alto)lamprologus compressiceps. There the about 13 cm long getting fishhunter inhabits the detrital zone, which it roams on search for food. When a prey is seen it approaches in slow motion, near the booty it speeds up and catches the victim. Because of its strong lateral flattening it succeeds penetrating in crevices and lays there on the look-out. In the aquarium they are characterised by a low aggression against tank mates. Clearly smaller co-inhabitants however are regarded as prey. The sexes are only difficult to differentiate, there is no pronounced sexual dimorphismn. Important for a succesful maintenance is a good water quality, since they react very sensitively to an increased water load. As cavespawners they rear up to 180 slowly growing offspring.
Ctenochromis polli occurring in the Congo River belongs to the rather rarely kept cichlids. Despite their body length of maximally 11cm they should not be kept in too small aquariums (100cm). The males are quite aggressive and pursue the females and suppressed males. They need sufficient hiding places, therefore the interior arrangement of the aquarium should be strongly arranged by roots, stones and large plants. The animals prefer life food and frosted food, after successful acclimatisation they will take flake and/or granulated food too. These fish prefer temperatures between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius. They are delayed mouthbreeders in the female sex. The raising of the brood with Artemia Naupliae and small flake food does not represent large problems.
March 2005:New on our list and absolutely rare: Cyphotilapia frontosa var. “DARK BLUE HORIZON”. We are proud to present these only in extremely small number existing variant of the well-known Cyphotilapia frontosa. Beside the remarkable longitudinal striation the animals are characterised by a very intensive blue. Since so far only very, very few animals are held, these fish should acquire only responsible “professionals”. The world-wide population increase lies for the moment with 10 fish per year!
November 2005: From Guinea the import of a still undescribed Pelvicachromis species surprised us. This species seems to mediate within the genus Pelvicachromis between P. roloffi and P. rubrolabiatus, since it carries characteristics of both species.
Particularly the name giving bright blue-green dorsal fin of females is noticeable.
Maintenance in pairs is appropriate, in larger tanks several pairs can be kept.
As a common knowledge, Pelvicachromis species are cave breeders, which can be bred in flower pots and halved coconut bowls. The aquarium should be well structured, dense planting, as well as some bogwood offer the necessary retreat area to the fish. Fishes of the genus Pelvicachromis can be bred in soft and slightly sour water, also for this species first reports over successful spawning are present.
Eretmodus cyanostictus is among the group of cichlids called gobies. Gobies only occur naturally in the surge habitat of Lake Tanganjika, which is the upper meter of the water at the shoreline. They unique in that their swim bladder is non-functional, meaning that when they’re not swimming, they drop to the bottom like a rock. E. cyanostictus is an algae-scraping cichlid that has a uniquely interesting spawning behavior – it’s a bi-parental mouthbrooder. Gobies are best kept as pairs. It’s possible to keep more than one pair in the same tank, but realize they can be quite pugnacious to one another. A single pair can be kept in a tank as small as 40 gallons, but two pairs should be housed in a tank no smaller than 75 gallons. Gobies in general can be quite nasty to each other, but once pairs form, “the fight is over.” Males and females will form a pair-bond that lasts for life. The food of choice for E. cyanostictus is a good Spirulina flake. Mysis and Cyclops make good supplementary foods. Suitable tankmates include other algae-eating tanganyikans, such as Tropheus and Simnochromis species.
The “Mburo Blacky” is coming from Lake Mburo in Uganda. This species is undescribed until now and grows up to 12cm. It does not dig and do not eat plants, but it is rather agressive and therefor those fish need bigger tanks (1 meter in length and up) in which they can find places to hide. The temperature should be around 22° and 28°C and all other water parameters could be changeable. This means in general that this item is not very choosy. You can get the first bred ones from Aquarium Glaser.(Photo & Text E. Schraml)
This beautiful cichlid comes from the Benue-river. At least the females grow up to 5cm, the males reach their maximum size with 7cm. Among themselves they are peaceful and they also can be kept with other fish. But there is a slightly rough behaviour, which is typical for all red cichlids. But much less than all other Hemichromis!(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)
From Pelvicachromis taeniatus are numerous variants and local forms existing in the western parts of Africa. One of the most beautiful variants is surely Pelvicachromis taeniatus „Lokundje “(a river in the south of Cameroon). At the moment we can offer very beautiful breds from the same breeder as the already introduced Apistogramma agassizi „Fire Red “ and Rineloricaria melini. The above presented photo shows an impressive male, in the picture database is a picture of the not less beautiful female stored.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)
Red Cichlids of the species Hemichromis are generelly regarded as aggressive, but this prejudice is based on past years, when 160 ltr tanks were considered to be bathtubs and you mostly had to be satisfied with 60 ltr aquariums. To keep them in pairs, an aquarium of this size is in fact sufficient for Hemichromis sp. “Bangui”. But if you want to socialize the fish, it should be at least 160 ltr. Hemichromis sp. “Bangui” belongs to the more peaceful Cichlids of the species Hemichromis, but when they get into the mood for brooding, they know – like almost all Cichlids – how to defend their children emphatically. The breeding is actually no big problem, as they are not bound to any special water conditions and therefore brood regularly. Also the feeding is unproblematic, so that they can be even recommended to beginners with sufficiently big aquariums. Plants are not getting damaged. The fish are full-grown with six (females) to eight centimetres (males). It still is not clear, if it is an independent species or if we are facing a location variant of a kind already known. However, this Red Cichlid of Bangui certainly is an interesting enrichment to the aquarists offer.(Photo & Text T. Weidner)
May 2007: From the Congo we received Pseudocrenilabrus philander. The fish originate from the upper parts of the Congo river (Lualaba). Their area of circulation covers nearly the entire southern Africa, where they are to be found in practically all types of waters. As mouthbreeders in the female gender their courtship and broodcare run after the typical haplochromine pattern.
August 2004: Now available: Lamprologus callipterus ALBINO. After several years, one of our breeder was successful in breeding this species. We have this fish for the first time in stock. You will find here more details soon.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)
From the currents of the Congo River originates Steatocranus casuarius commonly known as the blockhead or buffalo cichlid. This is how the fish developed its unusual swimming style, because of the fast water current, it has an under-developed swim bladder and swims in a ‘jerky’ movement, much like a goby. The males can get 10 – 12 cm large, the females remain with 8 cm smaller. The fatty lump on the males head grows with age and health; also it can get larger around spawning time. Intraspecific they are quite aggressive, so that for their care a larger aquarium (starting from 100 cm) is needed. Because of their fast flowing water habitat they have a big oxygen demand, and in addition they do not stand bad water hygiene. In the case of good filtering and good feeding, sooner or later they will go for reproduction. Since they are cave spawners with an intensive brood care, interesting observations on their behaviour can be made, even in community tanks.
Orthochromis stormsi reached us as bycatch with Steatocranus casuarius. Both species originate from Central Africa, where they inhabit the cataracts of the Congo River. Their maximum size amounts to 12 cm, whereby the females remain somewhat smaller. The differences between sexes are only weakly pronounced, males appear more multicoloured, females have a darker basic colour. Their social behaviour is very interesting, because of their rather high aggression potential one should however maintain them in one not to small groups. In a 200l tank about 10 animals can be accommodated. In such a group is a constant movement, apart from its favourite activity the feeding, it hunts conspecifics through the tank, rests on a stone and begins then again with hunting on the neighbours. According to their origin from fast flowing waters they need clean, oxygen-rich water. Otherwise they are rather undemanding, with good care one will discover with high probability sometime a “chewing” female and can look forward to the new generation.
This rapid inhabitant from the lower Congo catchment area, which grows up to 10cm is generally regarded as the worlds flattest cichlid. At first sight it it looks like the little more known T. brichardi, but T. depressum – as the species name already tells – is distinctly more flattened, which you can especially see, if it props up on the ground with its bellyfins in its typical way. The care hardly causes any problems for the keeper, as T. depressum is very easy to feed with every common food. As the animals are to theirself territorial, you should – despite their small size – own an aquarium with a minimum capacity of 160l. Plants are not getting eaten and there are no special demands to the water values. Being cavebreeders they love cramped niches and clefts, inside which they can retire and later spread their eggs, too. The tighter the cleft, the better they feel inside. Partially stones which are lieing flat on the ground, are creating holes by the animals themselves. The sexes can be distinguished rather easily and so the females soon show a broad red-orange zone on their tail fin, which the males do not have or which is reduced to a very small line. Females being mature to spawn show a yellow-orange to reddish belly. Males keep the usual brown-black primary colour. (Photo & Text T. Weidner)
Angaben zum Tier
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Kongo
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This is another, very nice dwarf cichlid from western Africa, available even with the name of the collecting site. We have fully grown and wonderful coloured specimens in stock.
This beautiful sport of P. humilis is available only very occassionally. We received them in an ideal size (5-8 cm). They have already very nice colours!
Adult pair of S. casuarius. Photo: B. Migge / Aqualog Archieves
S. casuarius
S. gibbiceps, male
S. gibbiceps, female
S. tintanti, male
S. tinanti, female
