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Büttikofer's pelmatochromis

Pelmatochromis buettikoferi

Also known as Buettikoferi cichlid

FreshwaterFish

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
Tankmates with caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Origin
Upper Guinea rivers, Liberia to Guinea-Bissau
Family
Cichlidae

Overview

This is a large but fairly easygoing West African cichlid, best kept as a single fish or a bonded pair rather than a group. It spends its time on and near the bottom of a roomy tank and is calm for its size, turning territorial mainly around a spawning cave, so give it space and pick sturdy, similar-sized tankmates. Being big, it needs a large tank and strong filtration to stay in condition and show its bronze coloring. Feed a varied diet of quality pellets, frozen bloodworm, mysis, and some vegetable food. A tank of around 400 liters or more, with driftwood and open floor, suits it.

In the wild

Pelmatochromis buettikoferi lives in coastal forest rivers of Upper Guinea, from Liberia up toward Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, in warm, gently flowing, often shaded water. Recreate that with driftwood, some rock, a sand or fine gravel floor, and subdued light. The water is soft to medium and near neutral, so hold 23 to 27 C and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

Good to know

Pelmatochromis buettikoferi belongs to the cichlid family and reaches about 23 centimeters. It is one of only a few species left in Pelmatochromis after that once-crowded genus was split up and most of its members moved elsewhere. It is a substrate spawner of medium difficulty, a pair laying and guarding eggs on a firm surface or in a cave, and it will breed in hard or soft water.

Did you know

The fish is named after Johann Buttikofer, a Swiss zoologist and museum curator whose nineteenth-century expeditions to Liberia turned up many new West African animals, this cichlid among them.

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 do Büttikofer's pelmatochromis need?

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

How big do Büttikofer's pelmatochromis get?

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

Where to buy

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Appears in

Freshwater fish · Cichlids · Bottom dwellers

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