We regularly have beautiful offspring of this cute dwarf cichlid in stock. Wild-caught specimens are very rare on the market. Males of this species grow to about 6 cm in length, while females remain smaller. This makes this Nanochromis one of the smallest cichlids in existence.
The fish originally comes from the Lac Mai Ndombe region in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Unlike most Congolese fish, they are therefore adapted to very soft and, above all, acidic water (pH 4.5). Although aquarium strains have become quite tolerant in this respect, the fish are significantly less susceptible to disease in an acidic environment.
Otherwise, they are easy to care for and very attractive fish. Like all Nanochromis, they are cave breeders, with the female guarding the clutch and the male guarding the territory. Males and females of N. transvestitus can be easily distinguished by the color of their fins, and only the female develops an intense red belly. Their courtship behavior is spectacular. Both sexes court with their mouths wide open and fins spread. The female also adopts a very strange S-shaped posture.
The species name transvestitus means “transvestite”; it was chosen because the male is so much less colorful than the female; usually in the animal kingdom, the male is the more colorful animal. However, this so-called reverse sexual dichromatism is the rule rather than the exception among chromidotilapine cichlids, which include Nanochromis, Pelvicachromis, etc. But the scientists who gave the animal its name in 1984 apparently did not know this.
For our customers: the animals have code 555002 to 555004 (bred ones) and 555102 to 555103 (wild) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale customers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
