Scientific name: Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus

Common name: Fusco Cichlid

Family: Cichlidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 18 - 25 cm (7.09 - 9.84 inch)

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Recommended pH range for the species: 7.8 - 8.9

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 10 - 24°N (178.57 - 428.57ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 23 - 26 °C (73.4 - 78.8°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: Africa

Temperament to its own species: peaceful

Temperament toward other fish species: aggressive to smaller

Usual place in the tank: Middle levels

Food and feeding

Offer a variety of meaty frozen foods. Smaller specimens will take mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, and Mysis shrimp, whilst larger fish will take krill, prawns, lancefish, whitebait etc. A good quality flake and appropriately sized cichlid pellets should also be provided.

Origin

Africa; fusco hap is found in Lake Malawi.

Sexing

Males are much more colourful than the females and they will display egg spots on their anal fin.

Breeding

Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus are mouth brooders. When the fish have spawned, the female will scoop the eggs into her mouth and hide away while she is incubating them. After 2-3 weeks the fry should be released and they can be fed on newly hatched brine shrimp or crushed flake.

Lifespan

The expected life span for Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus is 8-10 years.

Short description

One male should be kept with several females in a tank that has plenty of rockwork for hiding places. Open swimming spaces should be left at the front of the tank.