Kaligono
Nimbochromis polystigma
Also known as Polystigma Cichlids
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 10.2 in
- 26 cm
- Minimum tank
- 74 gal
- 280 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
Overview
The Kaligono is a large, predatory Lake Malawi cichlid for a big tank. It counts as a difficult fish, best left to experienced keepers.
Did you know
The Kaligono hunts by playing dead. It lies still on the sand like a mottled lump of debris until a curious small fish comes close, then it strikes. That habit has given it the nickname "the sleeper."
Caring for the Kaligono
Give a Kaligono a large tank of at least 74 gal (280 L). Lay a big sand floor for cruising, with some rock piles for cover. It holds the middle and lower water.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Feed quality cichlid pellets plus frozen or live shrimp and similar meaty foods. Avoid feeder fish.
The Kaligono is mostly peaceful, but it is a large predator that will eat anything small enough to fit in its mouth. Do not mix it with little fish. Keep it with other big, robust Malawi cichlids, or on its own. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, though breeding it at home is not well documented.
Good to know
The Kaligono, Nimbochromis polystigma, is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, marked with a blotchy, mottled pattern. That pattern is camouflage for an ambush predator that hunts small fish. Wild populations are considered stable.
In the wild
The Kaligono comes from the sandy, shallow zones of Lake Malawi, where open sand meets scattered rock. It stalks over the open sand and uses the rocks to hide.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Kaligono 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.
Common questions
What size tank does a Kaligono need?
A Kaligono needs at least 74 gal (280 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Kaligono need?
A Kaligono is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a Kaligono eat?
A Kaligono takes quality cichlid pellets and meaty foods, such as frozen or live shrimp. It should not be given feeder fish.
How big does a Kaligono get?
An adult Kaligono reaches about 10.2 in (26 cm).
How does a Kaligono breed?
The Kaligono is a maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding it at home is not well documented.
Related species
9.8 in (25 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Livingston's cichlid
Nimbochromis livingstonii
9.8 in (25 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Venustus cichlid
Nimbochromis venustus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)74 gal (280 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Fusco hap
Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Linn's hap
Nimbochromis linni
9.8 in (25 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)Congo coptodon
Coptodon congica
9.8 in (25 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)66 gal (250 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Malawi eyebiter
Dimidiochromis compressiceps
9.8 in (25 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)