Dimidiochromis compressiceps
Dimidiochromis compressiceps is without exaggeration one of the most attractive representatives of predatory fish. In the wild, these fish live in Lake Malawi, in shallow waters near the edge of the underwater vegetation.
The body of Dimidiochromis compressiceps strongly compressed from the sides, by and large this is the flattest fish of all the cichlids living in Lake Malawi. The abdominal line is almost straight, while the dorsal line is rounded. The anal and dorsal plumage are shifted towards the tail. The mouth is large with fleshy jaws and lots of very sharp teeth. Males are particularly beautiful, their body colored with a bluish greenish cast. Pectoral fins are transparent and dorsal and anal plumage is orange with multicolored speckles. In general, the adult males are much more colourful than the females, which are mostly silvery in colour. The maximum size of the fish is 25 cm.
Dimidiochromis compressiceps are predatory fish and should not be kept in a common aquarium with fish smaller than 12 cm, as they will certainly be eaten. With fish larger in size and to tribesmen dimidohromis live quite peacefully. Territoriality fish exhibit only in the pre-spawning period and during spawning.
In the aquarium fish should preferably contain a group of 1 male and 2-3 females. Given the large size of fish for their content requires a large aquarium of more than 500 liters, which largely determines that meet these fish in domestic aquariums can be very rare. Dimidiochromis compressiceps fish very fast and is characterized by an explosive nature lightning pounce on potential prey and in the blink of an eye tears its body with razor-sharp teeth to pieces.
Water parameters: 23-28° C, hardness dH 10-25°, pH 7,5-8,8. Requires filtration, aeration and a weekly change of at least 1/3 of the aquarium water with fresh water.
A mixture of sand and gravel should preferably be used as a substrate. The fish, due to their considerable size, may swim freely between large stones and crevices at the bottom. At the same time, provide sufficiently large free space for the swimmers. Wallisneria can be planted around the perimeter of the aquarium, which approximates the conditions the fish are used to in nature.
The fish can be fed with various dried foodstuffs in the form of flakes and pellets in an aquarium, but they should not form the basis of their menu. Although these fish eat mainly live food in nature, they will nevertheless eat shrimp, mussels, clams and small fish in an aquarium. Necessary plant food supplement in the form of chopped cucumber, aubergine, lettuce, etc.. Feed the fish once a day.
Reproduction
Dimidiochromis compressiceps breed under suitable keeping conditions.
During spawning, the females litter the eggs on a pre-cleaned from debris surface of a flat rock. During the spawning period the female hatches an average of 40-100 eggs. After fertilization of the eggs by the male, the female collects all the eggs in her mouth, where they are incubated for 3-4 weeks. During this time, the female eats absolutely nothing.
After leaving the mouth of the female fry, it is desirable to put them immediately in another aquarium - so be able to keep more of their stock. The fry are large enough to eat artemia from the first days of life. The fry should be fed 4 times a day.
The life expectancy of Dimidiochromis compressiceps under aquarium conditions is about 10 years.
