Conjunctus benitochromis
Benitochromis conjunctus
Also known as Conjunctus mouthbrooder
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal
- 160 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Coastal Cameroon streams
Overview
The Conjunctus benitochromis is a small West African cichlid for a dim, shaded tank, where a bonded pair keeps to the bottom. It takes a little experience to keep well.
Did you know
In most mouthbrooding cichlids only the mother carries the young, but the Conjunctus benitochromis shares the job. The male and the female take turns holding the eggs and fry in the mouth. That two-parent arrangement is unusual among mouthbrooders.
Caring for the Conjunctus benitochromis
Keep the Conjunctus benitochromis as a single bonded pair in at least 42 gal (160 L). Set up a shaded tank with a soft floor, driftwood, leaf litter, and roots or plants to break the light. Keep it low-key, with dim light and plenty of cover near the bottom, where it lives. A pair prefers dim, sheltered corners for spawning.
Give it soft water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Feed small sinking foods, frozen bloodworm and a fine pellet.
It is fairly peaceful, but a spawning pair guards its patch, so choose small, calm tank mates with care. It is a mouthbrooder, and the pair spawns on an open surface, then takes the eggs up into the mouth. Breeding is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The Conjunctus benitochromis, Benitochromis conjunctus, is a small cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Its genus was split from Chromidotilapia by Anton Lamboj in 2001, when he revised the group and named several new species.
In the wild
The Conjunctus benitochromis comes from small rivers and forest creeks around Mount Cameroon and the middle Mungo system in coastal Cameroon. These are shaded, gentle streams with soft, warm, slightly acidic water.
Common questions
What size tank does a Conjunctus benitochromis need?
A Conjunctus benitochromis needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Conjunctus benitochromis need?
A Conjunctus benitochromis is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does a Conjunctus benitochromis eat?
A Conjunctus benitochromis eats small sinking foods, frozen bloodworm and a fine pellet.
How big does a Conjunctus benitochromis get?
An adult Conjunctus benitochromis reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
How does a Conjunctus benitochromis breed?
The Conjunctus benitochromis is a mouthbrooder. A pair spawns on an open surface, then takes the eggs up into the mouth, and breeding is of medium difficulty.
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Rio Muni benitochromis
Benitochromis riomuniensis
3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.7 in (9.5 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Mungo blue benitochromis
Benitochromis finleyi
3.7 in (9.5 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.7 in (9.5 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Nigrodorsalis benitochromis
Benitochromis nigrodorsalis
3.7 in (9.5 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Ufermann's benitochromis
Benitochromis ufermanni
3.9 in (10 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Mwanza dung hap
Enterochromis coprologus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)