Flameback cichlid
Pundamilia nyererei
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.5
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal
- 160 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Victoria
Overview
The flameback cichlid is a mostly peaceful, mid-water cichlid for a rocky tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
Female flameback cichlids pick mates partly by the male's red coloration, and in clear water that choice keeps the species distinct from its close relatives. When the lake turned murky from pollution, females had trouble telling the colors apart, and different species started interbreeding. It is a textbook case of how water clarity can affect which fish stay separate.
Caring for the flameback cichlid
Give flameback cichlids at least 42 gal (160 L), with plenty of rockwork and caves to break up sight lines. The rocky structure lets males set up and defend their patches. They swim in the middle of the tank.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.5. In the wild they feed on small invertebrates and algae. In a tank they take quality pellets plus live or frozen foods.
Males are territorial, especially when breeding, so house one male with several females to spread out his attention. Keep them with other Lake Victoria cichlids rather than mixing in lookalikes. The flameback cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is on the harder side.
Good to know
The flameback cichlid is a haplochromine cichlid in the family Cichlidae. It is considered vulnerable, hit by habitat loss and by the introduced Nile perch that reshaped Lake Victoria's fish community. It comes in several geographic color forms across the lake.
In the wild
Pundamilia nyererei lives along the rocky shorelines of Lake Victoria, usually in shallow water about 1 to 4 meters down. The rocks give it territory and cover.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The flameback cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Gangetic loach
Botia rostrata
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Mwanza dung hap
Enterochromis coprologus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a flameback cichlid need?
A flameback cichlid needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a flameback cichlid need?
A flameback cichlid is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.5.
What does a flameback cichlid eat?
A flameback cichlid takes quality pellets plus live or frozen foods in a tank. In the wild it feeds on small invertebrates and algae.
How big does a flameback cichlid get?
An adult flameback cichlid reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
How does a flameback cichlid breed?
Flameback cichlids are maternal mouthbrooders, and breeding them is on the harder side.
Related species
4.7 in (12 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Blue nyererei
Pundamilia azurea
4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Black and orange nyererei
Pundamilia igneopinnis
5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
- 5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Zebra nyererei
Pundamilia pundamilia
5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Graceful lamprologus
Neolamprologus gracilis
3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Christmas fulu
Xystichromis phytophagus
3.9 in (10 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)Roman nose angelfish
Pterophyllum leopoldi
3.9 in (10 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)