Mungo blue benitochromis
Benitochromis finleyi
Also known as Finley's mouthbrooder, Mungo blue
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 3.7 in
- 9.5 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
- Mungo basin, Cameroon
Overview
The Mungo blue benitochromis is a small, gentle mouthbrooding cichlid from Cameroon for a soft-water tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
A Mungo blue pair hands its eggs and fry from mouth to mouth several times a day. In most mouthbrooding cichlids, one parent does the carrying.
Caring for the Mungo blue benitochromis
A tank of at least 42 gal (160 L) suits a pair of Mungo blue benitochromis with a few quiet companions. Use a sandy floor with driftwood, leaf litter and some shade. That setup gives a pair cover, plus the flat surfaces and sheltered corners they use when they spawn.
Keep the water soft and warm, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, with gentle flow. Feed small foods such as fine pellets and flake, plus frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and cyclops.
Keep them as a bonded pair rather than a group, since a pair holds together to raise young. The Mungo blue benitochromis keeps to the lower half of the tank and is generally peaceful. A spawning pair can get pushy, so choose calm tank mates with care and give everyone space.
It is an ovophilous mouthbrooder, meaning the eggs go into the mouth soon after spawning. Both parents share the brood, and breeding is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The Mungo blue benitochromis is Benitochromis finleyi, a member of the cichlid family. The Mungo population wears a powder-blue sheen over a rose-pink body.
In the wild
The Mungo blue benitochromis comes from the streams of the Mungo river system in Cameroon. These are forest streams, with soft, warm water that is often stained with tannins.
Common questions
What size tank does a Mungo blue benitochromis need?
A Mungo blue benitochromis needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Mungo blue benitochromis need?
A Mungo blue benitochromis is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does a Mungo blue benitochromis eat?
A Mungo blue benitochromis eats small foods such as fine pellets and flake. It also takes frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and cyclops.
How big does a Mungo blue benitochromis get?
An adult Mungo blue benitochromis reaches about 3.7 in (9.5 cm).
How does a Mungo blue benitochromis breed?
A Mungo blue benitochromis takes its eggs into the mouth soon after spawning. Both parents share the brood, and breeding it is of medium difficulty.
Related species
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
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3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Rio Muni benitochromis
Benitochromis riomuniensis
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3.7 in (9.5 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Bigmouth dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma megastoma
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