Edit Congochromis sabinae

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Name

Scientific name

Congochromis sabinae

Described by

Authority Lamboj, Year 2005, Bracketed

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 10 credited

Summary

Congochromis sabinae is a small cichlid from rainforest streams in the Republic of the Congo, northeast Gabon and northern DR Congo. It was…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

70mm, standard length

Aquarium size

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

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 24–27°C, pH 4–6

Hardness

0–3dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Territorial

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

DR Congo, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Bondele, Congo, Likoula, Lubi, Ogooué

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Described from the Loubi River, a tributary of the Likoula River in northeastern Congo (Brazzaville) which is itself part of the enormous Congo river system. I…

Habitat

At the type locality the Loubi River was just 2-3 metres in width and shallow with a maximum depth of 1.2 metres. The area through which it flows was forested …

Aquarium size

An aquarium base measuring 60 ∗ 30 cm or similar should be the minimum considered for both breeding and general maintenance purposes, with significantly larger…

Maintenance

Use a soft, sandy substrate since this species is mostly benthic and provide caves/potential spawning sites by placing a few driftwood roots and branches place…

Use a soft, sandy substrate since this species is mostly benthic and provide caves/potential spawning sites by placing a few driftwood roots and branches placed in such a way that plenty of shady spots are formed and/or adding clay flowerpots, halved coconut shells, etc. Some hobbyists add lengths of plastic piping of a suitable diameter to provide cover and potential spawning sites.

The addition of dried leaf litter (beech, oak or Ketapang almond leaves are all suitable and a mixture of all three can look very effective) would further emphasise the natural feel and not only provide additional cover but facilitate development of microbe colonies as decomposition occurs. Such microfauna can provide a valuable food source for fry while the tannins and other chemicals released by decaying leaves are thought beneficial for blackwater fish species.

Fairly dim lighting is preferable. You could add some aquatic plants that can survive under such conditions such as Anubias, Microsorum, Taxiphyllum or perhaps some potted Cryptocoryne spp. A few patches of floating vegetation to diffuse the light entering the tank would also be useful, while gentle filtration providing a little surface agitation is adequate. Congochromis spp. require stable water conditions and should never be introduced to immature aquaria.

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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.

Web address

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DOI

Paste a DOI and we will look up the rest of the reference. A DOI looks like 10.11646/zootaxa.4694.4.1, and most papers print it on the first page.

Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

Enter the page that says this, e.g. 218 or 218–221.

Anything worth adding

Describe what you saw, or which part of the source says this.

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Congochromis spp. are benthic detrivores mostly feeding on plant material and other organic detritus though some aquatic invertebrates are undoubtedly taken as…

Behaviour and compatibility

Can be maintained in a community provided tankmates are properly researched and chosen with care. Good choices include diminutive, pelagic, schooling species s…

Sexual dimorphism

In adult males the posterior half of dorsal fin has a white margin with an additional, thin, red submarginal band in some specimens. The anterior portion of th…

Reproduction

Congochromis spp. are monogamous, bi-parental cave spawners and spawn readily in aquaria provided their basic needs are met. Although adults can survive in sli…

Notes

This species was present in the hobby for some time prior to being officially described and the spectacular red fish first exported by Pierre Brichard in the 1…

References

3 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