Kribensis Cichlid

Remarks: Pelvicachromis pulcher, also known as kribensis cichlids, have been a staple in the aquarium hobby for decades. Both males and females show brilliant colors, long fins, and excellent parental care. Mature females even display a bright pink rounded belly when ready to spawn. They are endemic to the rivers and streams of Nigeria and Cameroon, specifically in shallow and calm sections. Their habitat has a sandy substrate littered with botanicals and vegetation. Unlike the lakes that house most of the cichlids in the hobby, the waters that P. pulcher can be found in are soft and acidic. While they do best in captivity when their wild habitat is replicated, they have been bred in captivity for so long they have become extremely hardy and tolerate a broad range of water parameters.

  When a pair of P. pulcher forms, they will often remain a pair for life. After choosing a spot to spawn, usually inside a cave with a narrow opening, the pair will dig out a pit to make their spawning area larger and cleaner. Spawning typically takes place at night, and after several days, you will see fairly large free-swimming fry emerge from the opening, guarded closely by the pair. It is during this time that the parents are guarding young that these typically peaceful fish can get a bit territorial. Each day, the pair will allow the fry to explore the tank and feed on microorganisms before herding them back into the cave before the lights turn off. It is an amazing sight and a perfect introduction to cichlid breeding for any new aquarist.