SPECIES PROFILE: PSEUDOCRENILABRUS NICHOLSI


Scientific Name(s): Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi.

Common Name(s): Spot Tails or Blood Tails.

Origin: Africa Zaire basin .

Family: Cichlidae

Species Type: Pseudocrenilabrus

Maximum Size: 4 Inches

Life Span: 10-13 Years

Natural Habitat: In the zaire basin from Lake Upemba northward to Ankoro. Found along rock work, roots and niches with rich sediment.

Diet: All kinds of live foods as worms, insects and their larvae, and crustacea. Will accept flake but needs insects and larvae to get full blood color in tail.

Temperature: 72-77.

PH: 7.0, Medium hard to neutral water 12dGH.

Minimum Tank Size: 29 but 40 or larger gallon tank is recommended.

Tank Region: lower to mid region.

Temperament: Territorial, aggressive towards conspecifics and heterospecifics

Possible Tank Mates: Other Pseudocrenilabrus. I recommend a species only tank with a high female to male ratio.

Filtration and Setup: Any HOB, mechanical filter or canister will do fine. The substrate should be sandy with small rocks and shells to help build a rich sediment base. Needs a lot of hiding places among caves niches roots and such. Will dig up planted tanks and eat some of them.

Breeding: The eggs are laid in a pit prepared by the male, about 70 of them. Then the male will fertilize them and the female will pick them up in her buccal cavity. She will hold them for 21 to 30 days and then guard them for a few more weeks once released.

Coloration: These fish are beautiful. They have long ventral fins with a whitish blue hue. Their bodies are a goldish yellow with a black horizontal line. Beautiful blue and red tail and fins.