Scientific Name(s): Neochromis Nigricans

Common Name(s): Red tail vic.

Origin: Africa, Lake Victoria and Victoria Nile

Family: Cichlidae

Species Type: Neochromis

Maximum Size: 4 -5 inches

Life Span: 9-12 years

Natural Habitat: (Endemic to Lake Victoria) Usually found along the shallow rocky shorelines. Found in places with lots of rock scapes,caves and nitches in the wild.

Diet: Omnivore, in the wild they eat mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, small crustaceans, algae and
plants. Will accept many frozen and freeze dried foods, flake and food sticks.

Temperature: 75-80 Degrees

PH: 7 - 8.5 and 20 dGH, hard water.

Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallon, but 55g or larger is better!

Tank Region: Lower to middle tank region.

Temperament: Mildly aggressive, but can become very aggressive during breeding and courtship.

Possible Tank Mates: Christmas fulu, ruti island, sp44, any of the Nyererei family. They have been housed with Mbuna successfully.

Filtration and Setup: Recommend a good biological filter or refugium setup. Enjoys a lot of places to hide such as rock work, caves, niches, slate, sand is a good substrate, a gravel substrate can be used as well. Plants can be used but will likely be up rooted.

Coloration: The female keeps her juvenile coloration. The males get whitish body with a blue green sheen on their sides. The anal fin is red and the egg spots are yellow, they have a red tip on the upper dorsal fin.

Breeding: Maternal mouth brooder. They should be kept in breeding groups of at least a 1 to 3 ratio M/F. Typical Cichlid mating dance occurs, usually in a pit that is dug in the substrate or on a flat surface such as slate or rocks. The female will hold eggs in her mouth for about 3 weeks once the male has fertilized them. Females will watch after the fry for 4 to 7 days before leaving them to be on their own. Males become aggressive during breeding to other tank mates and to females.


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