Nimbochromis venustus

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Venustus
Venustus
Species	Nimbochromis venustus
Difficulty	Moderate
Min. Tank Size	321.76 liters 321,760.001 mL 85 US Gallons (321.8L)
Size	9.843 in 23-25 cm (9.1-9.8")
pH	7.2 - 8.8
Temp.	298.15 K 77 °F 536.67 °R 300.15 K 80.6 °F 540.27 °R25 -27 °C (77-80.6°F)
Water Hardness	10-18
Stocking Ratio	1:1 M:F
Availability	Uncommon
Diet	Carnivore Pellet Foods Flake Foods Live Foods
Life Span	5-8 years

[edit] Alternative names

Venustus, Giraffe Hap, Giraffe Haplochromis, Giraffe Cichlid, Venus Cichlid

[edit] Other Scientific Names

Cyrtocara venusta, Cyrtocara venustus, Haplochromis simulans, Haplochromis venustus, Nimbochromis venusta

[edit] Sexing

Mature males are more vivid in colour than females, their head will be more blue in colour.

[edit] Tank compatibility

This fish should only be kept with similar sized Malawi Cichlids. Are generally not aggressive towards other tankmates but only one male Venustus should be kept to a tank.

[edit] Diet

A carnivorous fish that should be mainly fed food such as mysis shrimp, ghost shrimp and crickets as well as cichlid pellet and flake. Vegetables in their diet such as blanched lettuce, spinach and peas are beneficial, they may also accept some vegetable based pellet food.

Please note that this fish is prone to Malawi Bloat and therefore foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp should be avoided.

[edit] Feeding regime

Feed once or twice a day.

[edit] Environment Specifics

Provide this fish with a spacious tank with excellent filtration and plenty of hiding places in the form of caves in rock. Make sure the substrate is either fine gravel or sand as this fish may dig in the substrate.

[edit] Behaviour

A generally peaceful cichlid, although two males may fight to the death over territory.

[edit] Identification

An large and attractive oval-shaped cichlid. The body is mostly yellow/green while the head is blue, more vivid in the males. The fins vary in colour, either yellow or blue, and several irregular dark blue splotches cover the body, almost in a giraffe-like pattern giving it its common name.

[edit] Pictures

Male

[edit] External links

• Fishbase
• Aqua Hobby
• Aquarium Life.net
• Fish Profiles
• Tims Tropicals (image only)