Edit Congochromis dimidiatus

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Name

Scientific name

Congochromis dimidiatus

Described by

Authority Pellegrin, Year 1900, Bracketed

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

Not recorded

Summary

Congochromis dimidiatus is a small cichlid of the central Congo basin in the Republic of the Congo and DR Congo, described from Bangui on t…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

62mm, total length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement Low: still or sluggish water

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22–25°C, pH 6–7

Hardness

5–8dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Territorial

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Central African Republic, DR Congo, Republic of the Congo, Congo, Ubangi

Writing

Etymology

Congochromis: named for the Congo basin, plus chromis, a name the ancient Greeks used for a fish. dimidiatus: Latin for 'halved' or 'divided in two'. Pellegrin…

Distribution

Described from Bangui (spelled Banghi in the original description) on the Ubangi River in the Central African Republic. Museum records place it widely across t…

Habitat

Stiassny and Schliewen (2007) describe it as a fish of larger rivers and lakes, where C. sabinae lives in small rainforest streams. Several museum records come…

Aquarium size

A tank with a base measuring 60 ∗ 30 cm or similar is the minimum for a single pair, for breeding or general care. More than one pair needs a much larger tank.

Maintenance

Use a soft, sandy substrate, as this species lives on the bottom, and provide caves as potential spawning sites. Clay flowerpots, halved coconut shells or shor…

Water conditions

Temperature: 22 – 25 °C pH: 6.0 – 7.0 Hardness: 5 – 8 dGH[3]

Diet

In the wild Congochromis species feed on the bottom, taking detritus, plant material and small invertebrates. In the aquarium, offer a varied diet of good-qual…

Behaviour and compatibility

It can be kept in a community tank if the tankmates are chosen with care. Good choices include small schooling fishes such as Ladigesia roloffi or Lepidarchus …

It can be kept in a community tank if the tankmates are chosen with care. Good choices include small schooling fishes such as Ladigesia roloffi or Lepidarchus adonis, small African barbs and Aplocheilichthys killifishes. It can also be kept with peaceful South American characins, Otocinclus or smaller Corydoras catfishes, and Southeast Asian cyprinids such as Trigonostigma or Boraras species.

Other cichlids are best avoided unless the tank is very large, and larger bottom-dwelling species should be left out entirely, as they compete for territory and food.

For breeding, keep a pair on its own or with a group of small-mouthed, non-predatory dither fish such as Nannostomus species. It isn't especially aggressive, but males are territorial and a single pair is best in most tanks. A group may coexist in a larger one.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Sexual dimorphism

Females are more colourful than males, with a violet flush to the belly and one or more black spots in the rear of the dorsal fin. Adult males are larger and m…

Reproduction

Congochromis species are monogamous, bi-parental cave spawners and breed readily in aquaria if their basic needs are met. Soft water is advisable for breeding,…

Notes

Described as Pelmatochromis dimidiatus by Pellegrin in 1900, and later moved to Nanochromis, the name it carries in most older aquarium literature. Schliewen a…

References

10 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References