Pelvicachromis

Pelvicachromis
Female Rainbow Krib (P. pulcher)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Cichlidae
Subfamily:	Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe:	Chromidotilapiini
Genus:	Pelvicachromis Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968
Type species
Pelmatochromis pulcher Boulenger 1901

Pelvicachromis is a genus of small (5.5–12.5 cm or 2.2–4.9 in), brightly coloured cichlids from tropical West Africa and Central 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.

Species

There are currently 11 recognized species in this genus:

• Pelvicachromis drachenfelsi Lamboj, Bartel & dell’Ampio, 2014 ^[1]
• Pelvicachromis humilis Boulenger, 1916
• Pelvicachromis kribensis Boulenger, 1911 ^[1]
• Pelvicachromis pulcher Boulenger, 1901 (Rainbow krib)
• Pelvicachromis roloffi Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968
• Pelvicachromis rubrolabiatus Lamboj, 2004
• Pelvicachromis signatus Lamboj, 2004
• Pelvicachromis silviae Lamboj, 2013 ^[2]
• Pelvicachromis subocellatus Günther, 1872
• Pelvicachromis taeniatus Boulenger, 1901 (Slender krib)
• Pelvicachromis sacrimontis Paulo, 1977 (Often mislabelled as P. Pulcher)

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.

Female Pelvicachromis taeniatus "Nigerian Red". Photo by Gerard Delany

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. They are usually great parents and will care for their young very well.

There are many different color types depending on the streams from which they come from. There are yellow, blue, red morphs commonly found in the tropical fish hobby.

References