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Büttikofer's pelmatochromis

Pelmatochromis buettikoferi

Also known as Buettikoferi cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Büttikofer's pelmatochromis (Pelmatochromis buettikoferi)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
9.1 in
23 cm
Minimum tank
106 gal
400 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Upper Guinea rivers, Liberia to Guinea-Bissau

Overview

Büttikofer's pelmatochromis is a large but fairly easygoing West African cichlid. It is a step up from the easiest fish and needs a roomy tank.

Did you know

Büttikofer's pelmatochromis is named after Johann Büttikofer, a Swiss zoologist and museum curator. His nineteenth-century expeditions to Liberia turned up many new West African animals, this cichlid among them.

Caring for the Büttikofer's pelmatochromis

Keep a single Büttikofer's pelmatochromis or a bonded pair, not a group. Being big, it needs at least 106 gal (400 L) and strong filtration to stay in condition and show its bronze coloring. Give it driftwood, some rock, subdued light and a sand or fine gravel floor with open space.

Hold the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed a varied diet of quality pellets, frozen bloodworm, mysis and some vegetable food.

It spends its time on and near the bottom and is calm for its size. It turns territorial mainly around a spawning cave, so give it space and pick sturdy, similar-sized tank mates.

It is a substrate spawner, and breeding it is of medium difficulty. A pair lays and guards its eggs on a firm surface or in a cave, and it will breed in hard or soft water.

Good to know

Pelmatochromis buettikoferi belongs to the cichlid family. It is one of only a few species left in Pelmatochromis, a once-crowded genus that was split up and mostly moved elsewhere.

In the wild

Pelmatochromis buettikoferi lives in coastal forest rivers of Upper Guinea, from Liberia up toward Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. The water there is warm, gently flowing and often shaded, soft to medium and near neutral.

Common questions

What size tank does a Büttikofer's pelmatochromis need?

A Büttikofer's pelmatochromis needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Büttikofer's pelmatochromis need?

A Büttikofer's pelmatochromis is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Büttikofer's pelmatochromis eat?

A Büttikofer's pelmatochromis eats a varied diet of quality pellets, frozen bloodworm, mysis and some vegetable food.

How big does a Büttikofer's pelmatochromis get?

An adult Büttikofer's pelmatochromis reaches about 9.1 in (23 cm).

How does a Büttikofer's pelmatochromis breed?

Büttikofer's pelmatochromis is a substrate spawner. A pair lays and guards its eggs on a firm surface or in a cave, and it breeds in hard or soft water.

Related species