Lifalilis cichlid

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Lifalilis cichlid
Hemichromis lifalili

Hemichromis lifalili

Systematics
Order : Cichliformes
Family : Cichlids (Cichlidae)
Subfamily : Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe : Hemichromini
Genre : Hemichromis
Type : Lifalilis cichlid
Scientific name
Hemichromis lifalili
Loiselle , 1979

Lifalilis cichlid ( Hemichromis lifalili ), also known as jewel cichlid , is a species of the genus Hemichromis , which belongs to the cichlids . The fish, popular with aquarists, are almost twelve centimeters long.

It mainly feeds on worms , crustaceans , insects , small fish but also parts of plants.

distribution

Its main distribution area is rocky rivers with temperatures between 20 and 26 ° C in central Africa in the Zaire lowlands ( Congo , Ruki , Tumbasee , Lake Yandja) and in Central Africa (upper reaches of the Ubangi ). The species is absent in oxygen-poor waters.

Lifalilis cichlid pair spawning
Lifalilis cichlid couple with young

Gender differences and behavior

Outside the spawning season, adult males and females can be distinguished primarily by their body shape. The females are on the whole much slimmer and show a lighter red. The males are much stronger and have a larger head than the females. Pair formation is difficult, if it is successful, males and females often stay together for years. During the spawning season the substrate spawners are aggressive and defend their territory and the brood against any intruder. A flat place (stone, plant, etc.) is used for spawning, where up to 500 eggs are placed. The larvae that hatch after three days are reburied in previously dug pits by the parent animals and guarded for another two weeks.

Systematics

Until the seventies of the twentieth century, all red cichlids were assigned to the species Hemichromis bimaculatus . After that, a wide variety of names were used, mostly without taking into account the knowledge gained in the meantime about the genus. From today's perspective, the entire complex consists of more than 10 species, which the layman can hardly distinguish and which will probably be removed from the genus Hemichromis in a future revision .

Aquaristics

For all red cichlids the following applies more or less: It is difficult to keep them together with smaller fish or fish that have free-standing fins , as these are mostly attacked or even eaten. In aquariums that do not offer enough space for two areas , keeping more than one pair leads to fights. A 200 liter aquarium is often mentioned as the minimum capacity for a couple.

literature

Web links

Commons : Lifalilis Cichlid ( Paracheirodon innesi )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files