Red-nosed Madagascar cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep a group in a tank of at least 280 liters with open water, some rock and a firm bottom. Water should sit around neutral to slightly alkaline, 24 to 28 C and pH 7.0 to 8.0. It is fairly peaceful for a medium cichlid and does best with its own kind or other calm species. Feed a mixed diet with vegetable foods, pellets and frozen invertebrates.

In the wild

This Madagascar cichlid comes from lakes, rivers and seasonal floodplains in the northwest of the island. It is a deep bodied fish that often shows a reddish flush on the snout and fins. In the wild it feeds on plant matter, algae and small invertebrates, including snails.

Good to know

Paretroplus kieneri is one of the smaller and hardier members of a genus of threatened Madagascan cichlids. It is a biparental substrate spawner that guards its eggs and fry. Madagascar's cichlids are an ancient group, more closely related to Indian cichlids than to the African lake fishes.

Did you know

Many of its relatives are close to extinction in the wild, so keeping and breeding Madagascan cichlids like this one helps guard against losing them entirely.

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