Jewel cichlid
| Jewel cichlid | |
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| Hemichromis bimaculatus | |
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| Genus: | Hemichromis W. K. H. Peters, 1857
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| Type species | |
| Hemichromis fasciatus W. K. H. Peters, 1857
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Hemichromis is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family, known in the aquarium trade as jewel cichlids. Jewel cichlids are native to Africa. Within West Africa, Hemichromis species are found in creeks, streams, rivers and lakes with a variety of water qualities including brackish water lagoons.[1][2]
Maximum size reported for the different species of Hemichromis ranges from around 8 to 30 centimetres (3.1 to 11.8 in) total length.[1][3] Maximum sizes in aquaria tend to be slightly smaller than in the wild, Hemichromis bimaculatus for example occasionally reaching 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in the wild but in home aquaria seldom more than 15 centimetres (5.9 in).[1]
Many Hemichromis species are brightly coloured, though brighter body colouration is generally evident during breeding. Sexual dimorphism is limited, though male jewel cichlids are typically more brightly coloured and in some species have more pointed anal, ventral and dorsal fins. In some species, such as Hemichromis cristatus, the females can have coloring as bright as the males. Like most cichlids, jewel cichlids have highly developed brood care. Hemichromis species typically form monogamous breeding pairs and the female spawns on a flat surface such as a leaf or stone. Both parents guard the eggs, and participate in fry raising.
Species
There are currently 13 recognized species in this genus:[4]
- Hemichromis angolensis Steindachner, 1865
- Hemichromis bimaculatus T. N. Gill, 1862 (Jewelfish)
- Hemichromis cerasogaster (Boulenger, 1899)
- Hemichromis cristatus Loiselle, 1979
- Hemichromis elongatus (Guichenot, 1861) (Banded jewel cichlid)
- Hemichromis exsul (Trewavas, 1933) (Turkana jewel cichlid)
- Hemichromis fasciatus W. K. H. Peters, 1857 (Banded jewelfish)
- Hemichromis frempongi Loiselle, 1979
- Hemichromis guttatus Günther, 1862
- Hemichromis letourneuxi Sauvage, 1880
- Hemichromis lifalili Loiselle, 1979
- Hemichromis saharae Sauvage, 1880
- Hemichromis stellifer Loiselle, 1979
Aquarium care
Jewel cichlids are neither suited to beginners, nor the usual community tank. Several young specimens may be kept in a spacious aquarium, with stones and wood for cover until a pair forms prior to breeding. Their innate aggression makes them good candidates for keeping in a monospecies aquarium, however this depends on a number of factors similar to all tropical cichlid fish; swimming and territory space, other aquatic inhabitants, diet and feeding frequency and tank layout.
Jewel cichlids are omnivorous and will eat both live foods and fish flakes.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Hoedeman, J. (1974). Naturalist's Guide to Freshwater Aquarium Fish. Elsevier. pp. 1089–1091. ISBN 0-8069-3722-X.
- ^ Monks, Neale (editor) (2006). Brackish Water Fishes. ISBN 0-7938-0564-3.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help);|journal=ignored (help) - ^ Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. "Family-Search Result, Africa-Inland Waters". FishBase. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Hemichromis". FishBase. September 2018 version.