Nanochromis transvestitus >> aquarium-fish.info

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How to look afterNanochromis transvestitus

Mai-Ndombe dwarf cichlid

Stewart & Roberts, 1984

(Other members of the genus Nanochromis)

ADULT SIZE: 6 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Very soft and acidic

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 26-29 C

FOOD: Feed Nanochromis transvestitus small live-foods and fine grade dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Congo (DRC)

SEXUAL DIFFERENCES: Males and females of this species are quite different in pattern and colouration. Females are plumper with a red belly and black and white stripey tail. Males lack both of these features.

AQUARIUM CARE: This dwarf cichlid hails from a blackwater lake in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lake Mai-Ndombe. This West African cichlid is small, and brightly coloured, and therefore a good candidate for a species tank, or West African biotope with a few killifish, or African tetras, and planted with Anubias and decorated with bogwood and caves.

BREEDING: Lake Mai-Ndombe is a very acidic lake, (pH 4.2 – 5.5) and aquarium-kept specimins will only breed in equally acidic water, however they will live happily in most soft to medium water conditions. Conditioning well helps induce spawning; feed protein-rich foods such as whiteworms. They are a typical cave spawning species, and good results can be acheived by placing a group together in a larger tank, and letting pairs form.

Have you bred Nanochromis transvestitus? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?, or examine existing Nanochromis transvestitus breeding reports

This image shows the female, with red belly and stripey tail

A male (background) displays to a female in the foreground

Males of the species are less colourful than females – note the lack of red on the belly of this individual

BREEDING: Lake Mai-Ndombe is a very acidic lake, (pH 4.2 – 5.5) and aquarium-kept specimins will only breed in equally acidic water, however they will live happily in most soft to medium water conditions. Conditioning well helps induce spawning; feed protein-rich foods such as whiteworms. They are a typical cave spawning species, and good results can be acheived by placing a group together in a larger tank, and letting pairs form.

Have you bred Nanochromis transvestitus? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?

This page summarises breeding reports provided by visitors to this site, along with some statistical analysis. Please feel free to contribute – whatever your experience!

1 breeder has filled in a breeding report, a summary of which is shown in the graphs below. You can read the full reports here.

To add details of your experiences of Nanochromis transvestitus, why not fill in a Breeding and maintenance Report.

Remember, each record represents only one persons experience; if you had different results, or used different methods, please share your experiences

Water conditions: Very soft and acidic Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Very timid Community tank?: Doubtful, only with VERY calm fish
Spawning Method: Other (see below) Breeding problems:
Poor egg production
Sex ratio: Roughly equal Breeding difficulty: Average
Sucess: Fairly sucessful Years Experience: 1
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 31st December 2012 Breeding date: 2012
Breeder: Location: Spain