Data sheet African butterfly cichlids
Scientific name:
Anomalochromis thomasi
Origin:
West Africa (Liberia, Sierra Leone)
Size:
6 cm (female), 8 cm (male)
Aquarium
Length:
100 cm
Contents:
60 L (a pair), better 100 L
water values
Temperature:
25 – 27°C
pH:
7-7.5
GH:
6-9 ° dGH
Behave
Area:
mid to bottom
Lining:
Live food, frozen food, dry food
Behave:
territorial but peaceful towards other species; Couples can become aggressive towards each other
Number:
pair keeping
Difficulty level:
Middle
General information about African butterfly cichlids
Anomalochromis thomasi male Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: Public domain Author: Rene Beckmann
African butterfly cichlids, Anomalochromis thomasi, are native to West Africa. There they live in rivers in forests.
They stay mainly in the lower and middle water layers. They can therefore be socialized with many shoal fish. Suitable are e.g. B. neons, copper tetras and dwarf armored catfish, C. pygmaeus.
In a 60 liter aquarium, African butterfly cichlids can be kept with bitterling barbs and small catfish. However, no more than one pair should be kept in 60 liters. 100 liters and more are better.
The animals show their beautiful coloring relatively late and especially during courtship.
You only need a few plants and need free soil space. The aquarium should be relatively dark. The females need ways to hide from the males. But the females can also be big and beefy, so the male needs cover.
They behave extremely peacefully towards other fish species, plants and aquarium equipment are left alone. They eat any food, especially live and frozen food.
African butterfly cichlids eat snails.
The keeping conditions
The gender differences
The males are about 8 centimeters tall, the females about 6 centimeters. Females are more intensely colored than males. Males and females do not have different genital papillae. With juvenile fish, one can only hope that one has received a pair.
Couples can argue violently.
Anomalochromis thomasi female Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: Public domain Author: Daniel W.
In the case of African butterfly cichlids, violent arguments can arise between pairs. Especially during the breeding season, this can lead to the death of one of the two animals in the pair. One animal often blames the other when the clutch disappears.
If a couple becomes aggressive towards each other, the couple must be separated immediately. When the young have swam free, an attempt can be made to get the parents used to each other again. However, it happens that they no longer get along.
As a rule, the male sees the aquarium as his territory and expels the female from it. In such cases, the female is put into the aquarium first. One to two weeks later the male is added. The male is then an intruder in the female’s territory and behaves more cautiously.
Another possibility is to use another female so that the male can choose between 2 females and not only one female is always hunted.
breed
During the mating season, the males in particular are beautifully colored. The eggs are laid on a flat rock, the filter wall, etc. The clutch is guarded and cared for alternately by the two parents.
If the water is too hard, the eggs fungus and are then eaten by the parents.
rearing
African butterfly cichlids usually take very good care of their young. It is therefore not necessary to separate the young from their parents.
If brood from a community tank is to be transferred, the clutch should be transferred as early as possible. The young fish can only be transferred when they are 2 to 3 weeks old. In the past, they do not tolerate being moved and are eaten by their parents.