Paracyprichromis brieni
Paracyprichromis brieni is a real schooling fish and must be kept in groups of at least 10 pieces. The males have a bit more color than the females, and the fins are slightly longer. Males can reach a length of 10 centimeters and the females stay slightly smaller. This species leaves other species completely alone. Because this is a very peaceful species that is easily suppressed, it can only be kept together with other peaceful species. The colors and behavior will then be much nicer and to see.
Synonym: Cyprichromis brieni.
Diet
In Lake Tanganyika, they feed on plankton and small crustaceans in the open water. In the aquarium, they do very well on cyclops, of course occasionally interspersed with other frozen food.
The Aquarium
The aquarium must offer a large amount of swimming space with some rocks on the edges so that the females can escape the attention of the males. The aquarium must be at least 1 meter wide, but rather more, Paracyprichromis brieni are real swimmers.
Breeding Paracyprichromis brieni
In the wild the male occupies a territory against a vertical rock. Here he tries to seduce the women into spawning. Mating happens at the rock with their head downwards, the female releasing the eggs 1 by 1, the male giving off some sperm and the female then taking both in her mouth. The nests are not large, usually 5 – 10 fry with peaks to a maximum of 25. After about 3 weeks the fry are released. After that, they will have to take care of themselves. The parents will not eat the young fish but other species will if they get the chance.
Video
Author
John de Lange
Copyright images
Matthijs Meindertsma
