Pelvicachromis

Taxobox | name = "Pelvicachromis"


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Female "Pelvicachromis pulcher"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Cichlidae
genus = "Pelvicachromis"
genus_authority = Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.The genus "Pelvicachromis" includes a range of small (7.5 - 10 cm), brightly coloured cichlids which occur throughout tropical west Africa. They typically inhabit soft, acidic water (pH 5.0 - 7.0).

All species form monogamous pairs and use caves as spawning sites. Most are easily spawned in captivity.

pecies

* "Pelvicachromis humilis" (Steindachner, 1866).
* "Pelvicachromis pulcher" (Boulenger, 1901).
* "Pelvicachromis roloffi" (Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968).
* "Pelvicachromis rubrolabiatus" Lamboj, 2004.
* "Pelvicachromis signatus" (Lamboj, 2004).
* "Pelvicachromis subocellatus" (Günther, 1872).
* "Pelvicachromis taeniatus" (Trewavas, 1935).

In the aquarium

"Pelvicachromis" make ideal aquarium residents. They are relatively peaceful cichlids which can be housed with other species in planted, heated tanks. They comprise part of the arbitrary group aquarists refer to as "dwarf cichlids". Dwarf cichlids are mainly found in Africa and South America.

They can be fed a variety of flake, frozen, and live foods. Pelvicachromis are cave-spawners and will lay their eggs in any cave-like structure such as a clay pot, PVC pipe, coconut shell, etc. The female will initiate the spawning, often displaying or vibrating in front of the male. The female will deposit 50-300 eggs in the cave and the pair will guard the eggs. The eggs will hatch in 3-8 days and become free swimming in 5-10 days.

References

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