Stormsi cichlid
Orthochromis stormsi
Also known as Congo rheophile mouthbrooder
FreshwaterFish
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
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Congo river rapids
Overview
The Stormsi cichlid is a river cichlid that lives like a goby, hugging the bottom in strong current. It suits a keeper past the beginner stage.
Did you know
The Stormsi cichlid is a mouthbrooder rebuilt for whitewater. Its open-water relatives would be swept away, but it stays pinned to the rock in fast current. It still broods its young in its mouth, the familiar cichlid plan pressed onto life in the rapids.
Caring for the Stormsi cichlid
Keep the Stormsi cichlid singly or as a pair in at least 53 gal (200 L). Build a river setup with brisk flow from strong filtration, high oxygen and piles of smooth, rounded stone to hold position among.
Hold the water warm and near neutral, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Feed sinking foods and frozen invertebrates, plus some vegetable matter it can graze from surfaces.
It is aggressive and territorial, so choose robust tank mates that also enjoy strong flow. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, with the female brooding the young in her mouth. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The Stormsi cichlid, Orthochromis stormsi, is a bottom-bound riverine haplochromine in the family Cichlidae. A reduced swim bladder helps it hold station in the current instead of floating free. It is named after Lieutenant Storms, who collected it.
In the wild
The Stormsi cichlid comes from fast, rocky stretches of the Congo river system. The current there is strong and the water well oxygenated.
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 does a Stormsi cichlid need?
A Stormsi cichlid is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
What does a Stormsi cichlid eat?
A Stormsi cichlid eats sinking foods and frozen invertebrates. It also grazes some vegetable matter from surfaces.
How big does a Stormsi cichlid get?
An adult Stormsi cichlid reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
How does a Stormsi cichlid breed?
The Stormsi cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder, so the female broods the young in her mouth. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
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