Family: Cichlidae
Distribution: Chalinochromis brichardi, sometimes known as Brichard’s Chalinochromis, is an African cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
PH: 8.0 – 9.0
Temperature: 24°C – 27°C (75 – 81F)
Hardness: 9 – 19 dH
Description: This rubble-dwelling cichlid can reach a maximum length of 12 cm. It has a black face with purple-blue fins and a longish body typical of Lake Tanjanyikan cichlids. At a young age it will display stripes, but these will fade as the fish ages to leave an elegant, gray-white appearance.
Diet: Chalinochromis brichardi is easy to feed as it will eat basically any food item. You can feed adults a diet of cichlid pellets, flake, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp and bloodworms – frozen or live. It is best to feed the newly hatched fry a diet consisting of baby brine, crushed flakes and powdered fry food.
Breeding: Chalinochromis brichardi can be bred in an aquarium environment. Spawning will usually take place in narrow caves, so provide plenty of hiding spaces in your tank. The female will lay up to 120 eggs in a cave, of which the males will fertilise. It will take 2 – 4 days before the eggs hatch and a further 10 days before the fry are swimming in the tank.
Comments: Chalinochromis brichardi should be housed in a tank at least 120 cm long to allow it plenty of swimming space. Decorate your tank with stones and rocks to create hiding spaces, and feel free to add plants as well. This species will appreciate the effort and will make a territory out of these items. This species is quite easy to look after and is recommended to beginners.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: You can house Chalinochromis brichardi in a one-species tank, or keep it with other Lake Tanganyikan cichlids. It is compatible with Julidochromus and Lamprologus, for example.
Originally posted 2010-01-05 20:39:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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