Smooth buffalo head
Steatocranus glaber
Also known as Glaber lionhead cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 2.6 in
- 6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lower Congo rapids
Overview
The smooth buffalo head is a compact Congo cichlid that hugs the bottom of a rocky tank with strong flow. It takes some experience to keep well.
Did you know
The smooth buffalo head belongs to a genus known for the fatty humps that swell on the foreheads of buffalo heads and lionheads. Its species name, glaber, means smooth, for the modest head that skipped that famous feature.
Caring for the smooth buffalo head
Give a pair of smooth buffalo heads at least 29 gal (110 L), with piles of smooth rock and caves for spawning. They need current, oxygen and clean water, so run strong filtration for a steady flow.
Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. In the wild they graze diatoms. Feed sinking foods, frozen invertebrates and some vegetable matter.
Keep smooth buffalo heads as a single bonded pair. They are fairly peaceful but defend their cave, so choose calm tank mates that tolerate flow. They are pair-bonding cave spawners, and breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The smooth buffalo head is a small, rheophilic cichlid with a reduced swim bladder. It hops along the floor in short bursts rather than swimming freely.
In the wild
The smooth buffalo head lives along the rocky, fast-flowing margins of the lower Congo rapids. The water there is warm, well oxygenated and close to neutral.
Common questions
What size tank does a smooth buffalo head need?
A smooth buffalo head needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a smooth buffalo head need?
A smooth buffalo head is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
What does a smooth buffalo head eat?
A smooth buffalo head grazes diatoms in the wild. In the tank it eats sinking foods, frozen invertebrates and some vegetable matter.
How big does a smooth buffalo head get?
An adult smooth buffalo head reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
How does a smooth buffalo head breed?
Smooth buffalo heads form bonded pairs and spawn in a cave. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
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