Congo Mouthbrooder

About

Found across a broad stretch of the Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from the Yangambi region in the middle Congo down through the Upemba lakes in the upper basin, Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi is a compact but feisty dwarf cichlid that turns up only occasionally in the hobby. Males are the more colorful sex and some develop elongated extensions on the ventral fins, giving them a look that sets them apart from close relatives. Despite a modest adult size, this species brings a lot of attitude to the aquarium. Males are intensely territorial toward one another, so the safest approach is a single male kept alongside several females. Bottom-dwelling tankmates like catfish or loaches can draw serious aggression, and in smaller setups you are better off pairing this species with larger tetras or surface-oriented fish that stay out of the cichlid's claimed space. Breeding follows the maternal mouthbrooding pattern typical of the genus. No pair bond forms, and the female alone incubates the eggs, carrying the brood for roughly ten days before releasing free-swimming fry. Spawning is not particularly difficult once the fish are well conditioned, and a harem setup with some target fish to help distribute the male's aggression tends to produce the best results. An intermediate-level species, but a rewarding one for keepers prepared to work around its temperament.