Tropheus brichardi Kipili
Tropheus brichardi "Kipili" occurs naturally in a limited area of Lake Tanganyika, along the coast located in Kipili District, Tanzania. The fish can be found among the rocks, at a depth of 1-10 m. The fish is named after Pierre Brichard, an exporter from Belgium. Recommended for keeping only by experienced aquarists.
Tropheus brichardi "Kipili", unlike other trophaeus species, has 5-7 spines in its anal fin. The body of females and young fish is decorated with transverse dark brown stripes on a yellow or beige background. The body of males is coloured dark brown or greenish, with the vertical stripes barely visible. The tips of the anal and pectoral fins have small scarlet spots. Females are smaller than males. The size of fish is 12-16 cm.
Tropheus brichardi "Kipili" should be kept in a group of at least 10 specimens with a few males in the flock. The tank volume should be at least 400 liters. To avoid hybridization, these fish should not be kept together with other trofeus species. Can be kept with almost any cichlids (Malawian and Tanganyi), commensurate in size with similar food preferences.
The aquarium should not be rocks, grottos and other decorations. Ironically, in this case, the fish will constantly occur between the conflicts, sometimes ending in the death of fish, but in most cases the fish will be in a depressed state.
Water parameters: temperature 24-27° C, hardness dH 15-30°, pH 7,5-8,8. Marble chips or shell rock can be used to stabilise the water parameters. It requires good filtration and powerful aeration, as well as weekly water changes of 1/10th of fresh water.
The fish's menu in the wild consists of algae, which the fish nibble off the rocks. They are assisted in this by a pair of conically shaped, tightly fitting teeth, which enable them to easily tackle almost any algae. The fish feed in large flocks. Much of the success of keeping these fish in an aquarium depends on feeding them properly. Their main food is cyclops, which should comprise at least 50% of their diet. Additionally, they can be fed with spirulina containing flakes and pellets, chopped spinach, salad and dandelion leaves. Feed the fish in small doses 3-4 times a day. Due to the fact that the Tropheus brichardi "Kipili" prone to intestinal diseases, once a month as a prophylactic feeding should be carried out with feeds containing medication or make the latter directly in the water.
Reproduction
It should be noted at once that female Tropheus brichardi "Kipili" living in nature are better mothers than their counterparts living in the aquarium. Why this is the case is anyone's guess.
Fish pairs form only during the spawning period. All care of the clutch and fry is taken care of by the female. One female fish nurtures up to 20 fry. To spawn, the male picks up a flat, sloping surface and attracts the female to it by vibrating his entire body. When the female swims up to the spawning spot, the fish start circling above it. At one point, the female hatches a batch of eggs and immediately takes all the eggs into her mouth. She then swims up to the anal fin of the male, which has spot-releasers and tries to grab them, and at this point the male emits the milk. Thus the eggs are fertilised in the female's mouth.
The eggs incubate in the female's mouth for 23-28 days, after which the fry swim free. The female protects the offspring from other fish, and fry in case of danger immediately swim into the mouth of their mother.
From the first days of life, the fry are fed with a flake foodstuff intended for fish fry, as well as artemia nauplii. The fry are fed 4 times a day.
The life span of Tropheus brichardi "Kipili" in aquarium conditions is 12-16 years.
