AFRICAN CICHLIDS.
Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
Subfamily ( Pseudocrenilabrinae )
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Genus Hemichromis.
— Hemichromis letourneuxi [Sauvage, 1880]. Synonym: Hemichromis saharae, letourneuxi. Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolf), lower reaches of the Nile and Senegal rivers, Gambia, Volta. Inhabits fresh and brackish waters. 9-12 cm. This cichlid has a more oval body shape, with a shorter snout. Brownish-orange, it is hard to confuse with other varieties due to its coloration and limited number of blue spots on the body. Varieties have two large, round, dark spots on the body, one on the caudal peduncle and another in the center of the flank. During stress, they may develop dark vertical bars.
The body and head are speckled with silvery light-blue dots. The gill spot is also present and sometimes surrounded by a reddish color. Males develop a slightly steeper forehead. Dominant fish are bright red all over the body, sometimes with a yellow longitudinal stripe in the middle of the body from the gill covers to the caudal peduncle. Females are slightly smaller than males and have a paler color. Hemichromis letourneuxi is often confused with H. bimaculatus and H. lifalili.
A large tank of 150-200 liters is required. In overly cramped aquariums, they become extremely aggressive. It is recommended to keep a group of 5-6 individuals to diffuse aggression or raise a single pair. Due to aggression, keeping them with other fish is not recommended; some catfish are permissible. They like to dig in the substrate, so use plants with strong root systems or potted ones. If you want their coloration to be bright, feed them more live food, but also an adequate amount of vegetable matter, as this is also part of their diet.
The water should be soft and slightly acidic. For breeding, they choose a flat, sloping stone or even the aquarium glass. In addition, the pair will dig several shallow pits around the spawning substrate. Parents care for their offspring for about a month. pH 6.0-7.0; dH 4-20°; T 22-25°C.
— Hemichromis lifalili [Loiselle, 1979]. (Eng. Lifalili Jewel Cichlid, Red Forest Jewel Cichlid). Inhabits Lake Tumba, irrigation ditches, small ponds, and rivers in southeastern and southern Congo in West Africa. 10 cm. One of the most beautiful red cichlids. On the main blood-red or crimson background (bright in males, dark in females), shiny blue dots are randomly scattered, extending onto the fins. On the flanks in the middle of the body, there is one large black-and-blue spot that sometimes fades, with a second spot on the gill cover. The spot on the caudal peduncle in juveniles disappears with age.
The unpaired fins are colored violet-red to red. The dorsal fin is long, and the caudal fin is fan-shaped. The dorsal and caudal fins have a turquoise margin. The male is larger than the female; by two years of age, a fatty cushion forms on his head, and his body becomes significantly elongated upward. The female is fuller than the male, with fewer blue spots. Weaker fish acquire a gray camouflage coloration and are difficult to spot in thickets.
The fish is territorial, with an individual degree of aggressiveness; it is pugnacious and intolerant, so individual pairs are kept isolated in a species aquarium, and it can only be kept with other fish of equal or larger size. Once a mating pair forms, the dominant pair will have no trouble physically eliminating all others. This species is much more sensitive to aquarium size than to water parameters.
In small aquariums, these fish often fight and inflict serious injuries on each other. Females are also aggressive, especially during the spawning period. They stay in the middle and lower layers of the water. An excellent hunter, dangerous to small fish and even their peers, especially during the growth phase. They feed on small fish.
During the reproductive phase, they do a lot of digging to build a nest. Along with pebble substrate, they need shelters that can be arranged from various materials. These shelters are necessary for oppressed, weaker conspecifics. This is achieved using large-leaved plants as visual ambush shelters, or driftwood and rock structures. Plant hardy and tough plants protected from being uprooted by the fish.
They prefer soft and slightly acidic water. Filtration, aeration, and weekly water changes are necessary. Within six months, young fish grow up to 7 cm in length and reach sexual maturity. Spawning is in pairs (it is best to let a pair form from a group of juveniles) and can occur in a common aquarium. Eggs are deposited on a flat stone. Parents care for the eggs and offspring. Life span up to 5 years. dH 4-20°; pH 6.5-7.5; T 22-27°C.
Identification: Hemichromis lifalili.
— Hemichromis paynei [Loiselle, 1979]. Inhabits rivers and lagoons of southeastern Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia. 9-10 cm. They are easily distinguished from other cichlids by their olive-green coloration. The back is predominantly olive-green, turning golden in the center of the flanks; the throat and lower body are pale red.
The body features 2 dark spots – on the gill covers and in the center, just above the midline. The spot on the caudal peduncle disappears with age and turns into a small black stripe. Blue dots are present on the fish’s body and continue in sparse rows on the caudal fin. The head has blue dots. The dorsal fin has blue spots and red margins.
The coloration of fry is olive with a slight redness in the belly area. However, already in adolescence, the coloration intensifies, reaching its peak during courtship. Females turn yellow with bright scarlet bellies and backs. Ocellated spots in the center of the body and on the gill cover blend harmoniously into the overall pattern.
Males, however, are noticeably inferior in the contrast of their attire. Only during spawning and when defending their territory do the throat, chest, and front of the belly of males acquire a rich red color. During the breeding season, they are quite territorial. Aeration, filtration, and water changes are required. dH 5-20°; pH 5.5-8.5; T 23-31°C.
— Hemichromis stellifer [Loiselle, 1979]. Rio Muni to Cabinda, lower Congo. 12 cm, female is smaller. Very similar to Hemichromis guttatus. The back is olive-brown. The gill covers are reddish-brown and covered with blue curved lines and sparkling spots.
Adults have one dark spot on the flanks and one on the gill cover, while juveniles also have a pale spot on the caudal peduncle. The lateral spot varies significantly and may split into two vertical bands during spawning. There is no spot on the caudal peduncle. The lower half of the body ranges from pink to bright red.
The anal and pectoral fins range from pink to bright red. The first two rays of the dorsal fin are black. The caudal fin is pale yellow without spots, featuring alternating red and blue margins. A vertical dark band crosses the eye. Juveniles have a pale spot on the caudal peduncle. Aquarium of at least 100 liters. Feed with Artemia, cyclops, bloodworms, and other insect larvae and crustaceans. Spawn in a cave. Both parents care for the offspring. pH 6.0-7.0; dH 8°; T 27°C.
Genus Konia, Genus Xystichromis.
Hemichromis elongates, fasciatus, frempongi, guttatus. 
Identification: Hemichromislifalili
