Sierra Leone

Often overlooked when seen for sale, as juveniles can appear a little dull, A. thomasi is actually one of the best choices for the newcomer to dwarf cichlids. It is relatively undemanding, peaceful, easily bred and quite beautiful once settled into the aquarium. The species is currently monotypic, although several colour forms are available from time to time. In the future some or all of these may prove to be distinct species....

Perhaps looks best in a heavily-planted set-up or natural-style arrangement comprising a sandy substrate plus some driftwood roots and branches. The addition of dried leaf litter would further emphasise the natural feel and as well as offering additional cover for the fish brings with it the growth of microbe colonies as decomposition occurs. These can provide a valuable secondary food source for fry and the humic su...

Native to northwestern Africa with a range extending southwards from Guinea-Bissau through coastal parts of Guinea and Sierra Leone as far as western Liberia, around the city of Monrovia. Type locality was originally given as 'Sierra Leone' and 'Upper Nile' but this was later changed to 'Freetown, 8°30'N, 13°15'W, Sierra Leon', referring to the capital of Sierra Leone.

This species is sometimes referred to as 'Sierra Leone dwarf characin' and is the only member of its genus which can be distinguished from other alestids by lacking dorsal scales anterior to the adipose-fin insertion. The family Alestidae is the most spe...