Conjunctus benitochromis

Benitochromis conjunctus

Also known as Conjunctus mouthbrooder

FreshwaterFish

Conjunctus benitochromis (Benitochromis conjunctus) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

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: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Coastal Cameroon streams
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

The conjunctus benitochromis is a small West African cichlid kept as a single bonded pair, which stays together and shares the work of raising young. It lives near the bottom of shaded, gentle streams, so keep it low-key: soft water, dim light, and plenty of cover. It is fairly peaceful but a spawning pair guards its patch, so choose small, calm tankmates with care. Feed small sinking foods, frozen bloodworm, and a fine pellet. A pair is comfortable in around 160 liters with driftwood, leaf litter, and a soft, shaded floor.

In the wild

Benitochromis conjunctus comes from small rivers and forest creeks around Mount Cameroon and the middle Mungo system in coastal Cameroon. This is soft, warm, slightly acidic water, so aim for a pH between 5.5 and 7 and a temperature of about 23 to 27 C. Set up a shaded tank with a soft floor, driftwood, leaf litter, and roots or plants to break the light, giving a pair the dim, sheltered corners they prefer for spawning.

Good to know

Benitochromis conjunctus is a small cichlid in the family Cichlidae, reaching about 9 centimeters. It is a biparental mouthbrooder: the pair spawns on an open surface, then takes the eggs up into the mouth, and both parents share the brooding. The genus Benitochromis was split from Chromidotilapia by Anton Lamboj in 2001, when he revised the group and named several new species.

Did you know

In most mouthbrooding cichlids only the mother carries the young, but this fish shares the job. Both the male and the female take turns holding the eggs and fry in the mouth, a genuine two-parent arrangement that is unusual among mouthbrooders.