Transvestite cichlid
Nanochromis transvestitus
Also known as Transvestitus, Congo dwarf cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 5.0–6.5
- Adult size
- 2.8 in
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Blackwater of Lake Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo, over sand and rocks.
Overview
A pair needs a quiet tank of about 75 liters with caves, driftwood and very soft acidic water at 23 to 27 C and a low pH around 5.0 to 6.5. Filtering over peat and using tannin stained water helps mimic its home lake. It is peaceful outside breeding but the female defends the nest fiercely. Feed small live and frozen foods like brine shrimp, cyclops and daphnia.
In the wild
This dwarf cichlid lives only in Lake Mai-Ndombe, a blackwater lake in the Congo basin stained dark by tannins. The water there is extremely soft and acidic, with a pH that can drop near 4. It shelters among rocks and roots over a sandy floor.
Good to know
The name transvestitus refers to the females, which are more colorful than males and show a bold striped tail, reversing the usual cichlid pattern. It is a cave spawner where the dominant female leads courtship. Its blackwater home makes it one of the more demanding dwarf cichlids to keep and breed.
Did you know
Its name means cross dresser, given because the female wears the flashy striped tail while the male stays comparatively plain.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Transvestite cichlid is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Largescale rasbora
Rasbora paucisqualis
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Kuekenthal's halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Dwarf rainbowfish
Melanotaenia maccullochi
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Spotted pyrrhulina
Pyrrhulina spilota
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Borneo kuhli loach
Pangio borneensis
Freshwater2.5 in (6.3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Transvestite cichlid need?
A Transvestite cichlid needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Transvestite cichlid need?
A Transvestite cichlid is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.0–6.5.
How big does a Transvestite cichlid get?
An adult Transvestite cichlid reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).
Related species
2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Congo blue cichlid
Nanochromis nudiceps
2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Teugels' nanochromis
Nanochromis teugelsi
2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Consortus nanochromis
Nanochromis consortus
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Parilus nanochromis
Nanochromis parilus
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Splendens nanochromis
Nanochromis splendens
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Alacrina dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma alacrina
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)