Edit Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi

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Name

Scientific name

Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 2 credited

Summary

Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi is a small mouth-brooding cichlid from the Democratic Republic of Congo, found in ponds, creeks and drainage dit…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

85mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 90 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22–25°C, pH 6–8

Hardness

5–20dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Not recorded

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Democratic Republic of Congo.

Habitat

It inhabits ponds, creeks and drainage ditches where it is usually found around the banks or among the stems of aquatic plants.

Aquarium size

36" x 90 ∗ 30 ∗ 30 cm - ~81 litres.

Maintenance

The tank should contain plenty of hiding places. Clay pot caves, roots and pieces of driftwood can all be used. Plants are not essential but the fish will appr…

Water conditions

Temperature: 22 – 25 °C pH: 6.0-8.0 Hardness: 5-20°H

Diet

Will accept most foods. A good quality cichlid pellet can be fed as staple, but ensure the diet is varied with regular feedings of live and frozen foods.

Behaviour and compatibility

Can be aggressive towards other species inhabiting the lower reaches of the aquarium. If you wish to keep it with other dwarf cichlids, catfish, loaches etc. y…

Sexual dimorphism

Male fish are slightly larger and far more colourful than females.

Reproduction

Quite easy. Maternal mouth-brooder. The breeding aquarium should be set up as suggested above and a minimum of 36" in length. The fish will breed over a fairly…

Quite easy. Maternal mouth-brooder. The breeding aquarium should be set up as suggested above and a minimum of 36" in length. The fish will breed over a fairly wide range of water parameters. Aim for a pH of around 7.0 and a temperature of 24 °C75 °F and you should be fine. Try and purchase a single male fish and 3-4 females. If this is not possible get a group of 6-8 young fish and allow things to develop naturally. The addition of target fish in the form of larger tetras or rainbowfish is recommended. If the fish are conditioned on a high quality diet of frozen and live foods they should come into breeding condition quite quickly.

The male will form a territory which he will defend against intruders. When inbreeding condition he will excavate a shallow pit in the substrate. From here he will display to females, attempting to entice them to spawn with him. The male can be very pugnacious towards unreceptive females and this is why it is preferable to spawn this species in a harem with an additional shoal of target fish, as the male's attention is then divided.

When a female is willing, she will follow the male to his pit, where spawning occurs. The act itself is preceded by a display of circling by both fish. The male will nuzzle the vent of the female, and it may be this that triggers her to release the eggs. As the eggs are laid the female immediately picks them up with her mouth and then mouths the vent of the male, who releases some milt directly into the mouth of the female. Sometimes fertilisation occurs before the female picks up the eggs as the fish circle quite quickly. The male has an orange spot on his anal fin and it has been hypothesised that this may act as a kind of 'dummy egg' to attract the female to his vent. However if the fish are watched closely it appears this is not the case, as the vent of the male is not actually very close to the 'egg spot', and the female tends to mouth the vent itself.

Carrying females tend to attract rough attention from the male so it may be wise to remove the female to a separate tank at this point. She will hold the brood for around 10 days, at which point the free swimming fry are released. The fry can be fed brine shrimp nauplii, microworm and powdered dried foods from the day of release.

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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

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Notes

Rarely seen in the hobby, P. nicholsi is a stunning but pugnacious little fish that is nevertheless well worth seeking out. Some males develop long extensions …

References

No references

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