AFRICAN CICHLIDS.
Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae
Genus Chromidotilapia.
Some species were separated from the genus Pelmatochromis as a result of a revision carried out by Thys in 1968. Inhabit waters of tropical West Africa. Fishes form pairs, are territorial, stay in the middle and lower water layers, and occasionally dig in the substrate. A large aquarium rich in shelters (caves, driftwood) is needed. Plants with a powerful root system should be protected with stones from being uprooted. Eggs are incubated in the mouth.
— Chromidotilapia guntheri guntheri [Sauvage, 1882] — Guenther’s Mouthbrooder. Synonyms: Pelmatochromis guentheri, Hemichromis voltae, tersquamatus; Pelmatochromis boulengeri, pellegrini; Chromidotilapia bosumtwensis. (Eng.: Guenther’s Mouthbrooder, Cichlid). West Africa from Guinea to Cameroon — small rivers in savannas. In the aquarium 8-14 cm. The body is somewhat elongated in length and strongly compressed laterally.
The main coloration is olive-green with a bluish sheen. The back and head are yellowish-brown or olive-brown. The flanks are olive-green with a violet gloss. They have two longitudinal and several transverse dark stripes that can disappear. There is a green-blue spot on the gill cover.
The male is larger, has a bright red throat, pink belly, dorsal and anal fins are pointed, and there is a red border on the dorsal fin. The female has a red belly and a dark border on the dorsal fin. Subspecies: — C. guntheri loennbergi. 8 cm. The fish has many black spots on the dorsal fin.
An aquarium with shelters and a fine sand substrate; the fish like to dig. Plants are best planted in pots. These fishes are aggressive towards smaller fishes. In a community aquarium, a single pair can be kept and only with large fishes. They can be placed in spacious aquariums together with schooling fishes that stay in the upper water layer.
Fishes form pairs, are territorial, and fight with other pairs; they stay in the middle and lower water layers and occasionally dig in the substrate. During the spawning period, they are aggressive, especially males towards each other. These cichlids are sensitive to deteriorating water quality and should not be introduced into biologically immature aquariums. Aeration and water filtration are desirable, especially in a small aquarium. Omnivorous, prone to gluttony fishes.
Mature at 6-8 months. Most often, spawning occurs in the community aquarium. In some cases, both parents take the eggs into their mouths, in others — only one. In this case, it is necessary to remove the one that does not have eggs, as it tries to take the eggs away from the other. The fry grow quickly and reach 2-3 cm in length within a month. They live up to 10 years. dH 3-12°, up to 25°; pH 6.2-7.5; T 22-26°C, salinity up to 5% if necessary.
— Chromidotilapia kingsleyae [Boulenger, 1898] — Kingsley’s Cichlid. Synonym: Pelmatochromis kingsleyae. From southern Gabon to Nigeria. 25 cm, in the aquarium 10-16 cm. Body is yellow-brown with a pattern of 6 transverse and 1 longitudinal dark stripes.
The male is yellow-brown with a pink belly; a reddish border runs from the middle of the gill cover and along the edges of the fins. The female is smaller, the dorsal fin has a golden border, and the belly is raspberry-red. Differs from the previous species by a more elongated snout. The color of the unpaired fins is dark cherry, while in Ch. guentheri yellow tones predominate. Juveniles are light brown with longitudinal stripes. Males are aggressive towards each other during the spawning period.
In a large aquarium, after territory division, they are peaceful; several pairs can be kept. A group of fish can be kept in a community aquarium with large fish species, as well as with smaller, but fast-swimming ones staying in the upper water layer. In the aquarium: sandy substrate, a large number of shelters. Mature at 10-12 months. Breeders or a single male incubate eggs in the mouth. dH up to 15-20°; pH 6.5-7.8; T 22-26°C.
— Chromidotilapia linkei [Staeck, 1980] — Linke’s Cichlid. Western Cameroon. 10 cm. The male is beige-yellow with faint stripes and reddish fins. The female has a pinkish belly and a golden stripe on the dorsal fin. Eyes and a spot on the gill cover are blue.
Peaceful cichlids, can be kept together with other peaceful fishes. They feed on both live and dry foods. Plants are planted along the back and side walls, and large flat stones are placed in the form of pyramids, creating many caves connected by passages. These shelters are necessary for the fish, as they like to spend part of their time in caves.
Due to the large number of stones, the fish do not dig pits even during spawning, but spawn directly onto the stones. In these same stones after spawning, the female with eggs in her mouth easily hides from the male’s continued courtship. A week later, the fry are given to the male; now he carries them in his mouth for a week. The parents continue to protect them for several weeks. pH 6.8-7.5; T 24-27°C.
Identification: Genus Chromidotilapia — Chromidotilapia.
Genus Cyclopharynx.
— Cyclopharynx fwae [Poll, 1948] — Cyclopharynx. Synonym: Callopharynx microdon. Congo. 12 cm. The main color of males is yellow with white, the dorsal fin is yellow. Females have the same yellow color, but it is much darker, almost brownish. Peaceful. Intraspecific aggression is very low. Feed on algae.
Congochromis dimidiatus, sabinae, squamiceps.
Benitochromis batesii, finleyi, nigrodorsalis, riomuniensis, ufermanni. 
