Stormsi cichlid
Orthochromis stormsi
Also known as Congo rheophile mouthbrooder
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 3.9 in (10 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal (200 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Congo river rapids
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
The stormsi cichlid is a river fish that lives like a goby, hugging the bottom in fast, rocky Congo water. Keep it singly or as a pair; it is territorial, so choose robust tankmates that also enjoy strong flow. It needs a river-tank setup with current, oxygen, and rounded stone to hold position among. Feed sinking foods, frozen invertebrates, and some vegetable matter grazed from surfaces. A tank of around 200 liters with strong flow and rockwork suits it.
In the wild
Orthochromis stormsi comes from fast, rocky stretches of the Congo river system, where the current is strong and the water well-oxygenated. Recreate it with piles of smooth rock, brisk flow from strong filtration, and warm, near-neutral water at pH 6.5-7.8 and 23-27 C.
Good to know
Orthochromis stormsi is a cichlid of about 10 centimeters, a bottom-bound riverine haplochromine with a reduced swim bladder that helps it hold station in current instead of floating free. It is a maternal mouthbrooder and is named after Lieutenant Storms, who collected it. Breeding is of medium difficulty.
Did you know
It is a mouthbrooder rebuilt for whitewater. Where its open-water relatives would be swept away, an Orthochromis stays pinned to the rock in fast current and still manages to brood its young in the mouth, the familiar cichlid plan pressed onto rapids life.
Common questions
What size tank does a Stormsi cichlid need?
A Stormsi cichlid needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Stormsi cichlid need?
Stormsi cichlid are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
How big do Stormsi cichlid get?
An adult Stormsi cichlid reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Stormsi cichlid?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Planning tankmates
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