Brichard's teleogramma
Teleogramma brichardi
Also known as Congo darter cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 4.1 in
- 10.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lower Congo rapids
Overview
Brichard's teleogramma is a slender, bottom-hugging cichlid from the Congo rapids. It suits a keeper with a little experience.
Did you know
Life in the rapids has reshaped Brichard's teleogramma. Its body is flattened and streamlined and its swim bladder is reduced, so it skips along the bottom instead of floating. It tucks into rock cracks that the racing water cannot reach.
Caring for the Brichard's teleogramma
Keep a single Brichard's teleogramma or a pair, since it is intolerant of its own kind and squabbles over the few good crevices. A tank of at least 53 gal (200 L), longer than it is tall, suits it. Give it slabs of flat rock and stone stacked into narrow caves of its own.
Run strong filtration, with powerheads for strong flow and high oxygen. Hold the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. It is a carnivore, so feed frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis and small sinking foods aimed at the bottom.
Brichard's teleogramma lives pressed to the floor and rock and holds a territory. It can be sharp with similar bottom fish, so choose its tank mates with care.
The sexes look different at breeding time. The female shows a white-edged dorsal fin and a pink to salmon belly, while the male stays a plainer gray. It is a cave-spawning substrate brooder, and breeding is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
Teleogramma brichardi belongs to the cichlid family. Its long, almost eel-like body is suited to slipping into rock seams.
In the wild
Teleogramma brichardi lives in the rapids of the lower Congo River. It threads through channels and crevices in bedrock and boulders, in fierce, oxygen-rich current. The water there is warm and near neutral.
Common questions
What size tank does a Brichard's teleogramma need?
A Brichard's teleogramma needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Brichard's teleogramma need?
A Brichard's teleogramma is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
What does a Brichard's teleogramma eat?
Brichard's teleogramma is a carnivore. Feed it frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis and small sinking foods aimed at the bottom.
How big does a Brichard's teleogramma get?
An adult Brichard's teleogramma reaches about 4.1 in (10.5 cm).
How can you tell a male Brichard's teleogramma from a female?
Males stay a plainer gray at breeding time, while the female shows a white-edged dorsal fin and a pink to salmon belly.
How does a Brichard's teleogramma breed?
Brichard's teleogramma is a cave-spawning substrate brooder. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
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