Nigrofasciatus pelmatochromis
Pelmatochromis nigrofasciatus
Also known as Blackstripe pelmatochromis
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.5 in (14 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal (250 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Congo basin margins
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
The nigrofasciatus pelmatochromis is a medium-small West and Central African cichlid with easy manners, best kept as a pair rather than a group. It lives low in the tank, where a pair holds a modest territory without turning the whole aquarium into a battleground. It is peaceful overall, but choose tankmates with care while a pair is spawning and guarding fry. Feed a varied diet of pellets, flake and frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp. Give it a tank of at least 250 liters with a sand floor, driftwood, plants and cover to mark out territory.
In the wild
Pelmatochromis nigrofasciatus lives along weedy river margins of the Congo basin and neighboring West-Central African rivers. It does well in warm, soft to neutral water: a temperature range of 23–27 C and a pH of 6.0–7.5. Give it a sandy floor, driftwood and plant cover with some gentle flow, and leave flat stones or wood where a pair can clean a surface and lay their eggs.
Good to know
Pelmatochromis nigrofasciatus belongs to the cichlid family and reaches about 14 centimeters, marked with dark bars over a brassy body. Unlike the mouthbrooding cichlids it lives among, it is an open-substrate spawner: a pair lays eggs on a cleaned surface and both guard the eggs and fry, so breeding is of moderate difficulty.
Did you know
Pelmatochromis was once a catch-all genus that held the kribs, the jewel cichlids and a long list of others; after decades of reclassification, only three species still keep the name, and this is one of them.
Common questions
What size tank does a Nigrofasciatus pelmatochromis need?
A Nigrofasciatus pelmatochromis needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Nigrofasciatus pelmatochromis need?
Nigrofasciatus pelmatochromis are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big do Nigrofasciatus pelmatochromis get?
An adult Nigrofasciatus pelmatochromis reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
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Related species
Büttikofer's pelmatochromis
Pelmatochromis buettikoferiFreshwater9.1 in (23 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Nsess cichlid
Stomatepia mariaeFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)66 gal (250 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Teardrop guianacara
Guianacara dacryaFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Smallmouth lethrinops
Lethrinops microstomaFreshwater5.7 in (14.5 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Ellioti cichlid
Thorichthys maculipinnisFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Firemouth cichlid
Thorichthys meekiFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)