Looking for info on a few species

[emartin]

Hi I am looking for any information at all on the following fish:
Lamprologus congoensis
Nanochromis parilus

And would those two get a long in a 75g, interbreed at all, etc?

Would they get a long with a single Steatocranus specimen (or pair) or a Pelvicachromis taeniatus trio or something?

I'm thinking of turning my 75g or my 60g I got from AMBUSHPREDATOR into either a West African setup, a Tanganyika featherfin/shell/sand dweller set up, or a Madagascar set up (Katria katria). Any inputs such as suggestions or just general information would be greatly appreciated.

~Ed

[AlishanAS]

Ed -I have never kept these species. I sent an email to Randall Kohn, an expert in West African cichlids, to take a look at your post and comment.

[Randall]

Hello Ed,

I can help you with the western African option.

Lamprologus congoensis is the most popular riverine species of the genus. Males grow to about 6" and females to about 4". Water chemistry is not an issue, but both inter- and infra-aggession levels can run high, especially when breeding (monogamous cave-spawners). For this reason, housing one or more pairs with smaller, less aggressive Nanochromis spp. or Pevicachromis spp. may be problematic.

Nanochromis parilis is a small, beautifully-colored, peaceful species that does well in tap water. Ideally the water should be soft and slightly alkaline, but unlike some of the other Nanochromis spp., they are not picky about water chemistry. N. parilis is a monogamous cave-spawner, but infra-aggession levels (male on female aggession) can run high, especially when breeding. For this reason, finding a compatible pair can be difficult. I'd recommend housing several pairs in a large tank, and letting them do their thing. You may have to remove subdominant fish, however, when dominant fish pair off.

In a 75-gallon tank you could house both N. parilis and a (one) Pelvicachromis taeniatus morph together. If you're planning on using tap water, I'd recommend getting one of the morphs found north of the Sanaga River in Cameroon that favor slightly alkaline conditions. These include the "intermediary" forms: P. taen. "Moliwe," "Muyuka," "Ndonga," and "Wouri." The other Cameroonian forms found south of the Sanaga as well as the Nigerian forms all prefer soft, acidic water.

Although the western African species that you ask about won't interbreed, closely related P. taen. morphs might. For this reason, one morph per tank is recommeded.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn

[AlishanAS]

Thanks for the detailed input Randall.

And if I'm not mistaken, Adam's Pet Safari in Chester, NJ, currently stocks N. parilis and several P. teaniatus varients.

[emartin]

Thanks for the info guys. Still not sure what I am going to do. Right now I am leaning more towards West African community, Madagascar, or new world and less likely Tanganyika... I just like oddball/rare fish...!

~Ed