Data sheet azure cichlids
German name:
azure cichlids
Scientific name:
Sciaenochromis fryeri
Origin:
in southern Lake Malawi
Size:
Body length up to 20 cm
Aquarium
Contents:
at least 450 – 500 liters
water values
Temperature:
24°-27° C
pH:
7.2 – 9.5
GH:
3° – 15° dH (ideally 5° – 10° dH)
Behave
Area:
lower and middle range
Lining:
Frozen and live food such as raw fish, mosquito larvae, shrimp, invertebrates, granules
Behave:
relatively peaceful and sociable
Number:
preferably as a harem (e.g. 1 male and 2-3 females)
Difficulty level:
Beginner
Keeping conditions for azure cichlids
Sciaenochromis fryeri male Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 2.5 Author: Gerard Delany
The keeping conditions for azure cichlids, Sciaenochromis ahli or Sciaenochromis fryeri, correspond to the keeping conditions for all Malawi cichlids. Because they grow to about 17 centimeters, the aquarium should be at least 400 liters have content.
husbandry conditions:
- pH 7 to 8
- good filtering
- weekly water changes of 25%
- some stone structures and caves
- sand
- maybe some java fern
gender differences
From a size of 5 to 6 centimeters, the genital papilla can be recognized in males with a magnifying glass. The specific coloring and finning develops from a length of about 8 centimeters.
If the color change has not yet started, the sexes can be identified by the fins with a little practice. The males have pointed dorsal and anal fins that are slightly extended even in youth. Females have rounded dorsal and anal fins.
Behave
Azure cichlids are relatively peaceful. The males are aggressive towards other blue fish during the mating season.
What azure cichlids eat
Azure cichlids will eat almost any food, from water flea to frozen cocktail shrimp. Dry food is also eaten. Other fish are eaten up to 2 centimeters in length.
breed
A large female can have at least 40 young every 3 months. A corresponding amount of space is required in the aquarium.
The mother takes the eggs and later the young in danger in her mouth.
Sciaenochromis ahli Magnification Photo: Philippe Coulon
If the eggs are spit out, the mother is either too inexperienced to hatch or the eggs are not fertilized. Other aquarium inhabitants may also pull the eggs out of their mouths to eat them. Other Malawi species, e.g. B. Cyrtocara moorii, swim against the full cheeks of the females and literally ram them. Most females then spit out at least a few eggs or young, which are then eaten by the attacker.
In a normal community aquarium hardly any young get through, even if there are stone structures with many cracks in the aquarium. Azure Chichlids are skilled hunters. They wait patiently for the young and attack very quickly.
If the female stays in the community aquarium, the female may not be doing brood care because she sees other animals as a threat to the brood. It can also cause her to keep the young in her mouth for much longer. This means additional stress and even more weight loss.
A plastic box with many smaller holes can be installed in the aquarium so that young animals have better chances. The box is surrounded with stones. Most juvenile fish live in this shelter until they are big enough not to be eaten.
Alternatively, the brooding female can be transferred to a special rearing tank. The female can be transferred about 2 weeks after incubation begins. The female should not be taken out of the water. Otherwise there is a risk that the eggs or young will be spat out.
rearing
Sciaenochromis fryeri Source: CC Attr. SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Bjoertvedt
Initially, a 60 liter aquarium is sufficient as a rearing tank. A spawning box is definitely too small. Other options are building a large spawning box yourself or dividing the aquarium with a partition.
Depending on the temperature, the young swim freely after about 20 to 22 days. Because azure chichlids are very cannibalistic, the female is released after another 3 days at the latest. The young no longer need protection. There are no predators in the rearing tank.
After a while, however, the young will no longer grow satisfactorily in a 60 liter tank because the aquarium is too small.
The young are fed with freshly hatched Artemia or finely ground dry food.
Young azure cichlids grow relatively slowly. It takes a long time for them to show color. Until the young are around 6 cm tall, it is difficult to pass them on to dealers or other aquarists.
Sciaenochromis ahli “Iceberg” Photo: Guppy1705 (Forum)
Sciaenochromis ahli “Iceberg” Photo: Guppy1705 (Forum)
Sciaenochromis ahli “Iceberg” Photo: Guppy1705 (Forum)
Sciaenochromis ahli “Iceberg” Photo: Guppy1705 (Forum)