Placidochromis sp. 'phenochilus tanzania'
by Todd Raysby - 02/02/2014
If you are looking for a large Hap-type cichlid that is stunning in appearance and docile in temperament, Placidochromis sp. 'phenochilus tanzania' is the fish for you. I originally acquired six fry through the Breeders' Award Program of the Greater Chicago Cichlid Association. The fry were tiny, maybe 0.5" long, but they grew fast enough. When the males reached a size of 2.5-3.5" in length they became a shimmering indigo color. If they had maintained that color for the rest of their lives, that would have been fantastic, but these fish develop unique, white scales that reflect the light like hammered metal. Only the males obtain this beautiful characteristic. The older they get, the more pronounced the white flecking becomes. It is a rare fish that continues to grow in beauty past its first two years of life, but this is one exception.
My group of six turned out to be three males and three females. When the males neared 4", they began to bicker as most cichlid males do. Being that I was housing them in a 40 gallon aquarium, the aggression was a potential problem. I placed the dominant male in a breeder's net, which admittedly was far too small for him. That proved to be a fatal decision. The fish became heavily stressed within days and refused to eat. Having nowhere else to house him, I released back into the 40 gallon. He did not recover and died shortly after I released him. Lesson learned: these fish do not handle stress well.
I separated the remaining pair of males into different tanks and eventually pared the group down to a quad, one male and three females. They spawned several times over a period of a year or two. They breed in typical mouthbrooder fashion, and the females hold the eggs for approximately three weeks. Like most mouthbrooders, the females do not usually hold well the first time or two, but eventually grasp the idea and are fair mothers. The fry are colored just like adult females, darker stripes over a dark blue background.
I separated the remaining pair of males into different tanks and eventually pared the group down to a quad, one male and three females. They spawned several times over a period of a year or two. They breed in typical mouthbrooder fashion, and the females hold the eggs for approximately three weeks. Like most mouthbrooders, the females do not usually hold well the first time or two, but eventually grasp the idea and are fair mothers. The fry are colored just like adult females, darker stripes over a dark blue background.
In the wild P. sp. 'phenochilus tanzania' is a forager that often follows around other species who sift through the sand for food. They pick through the debris stirred up by fish such as Fossorochromis rostratus. In the aquarium they will accept just about any prepared food offered. I feed mine a variety of protein-heavy pellets and flakes, vegetable-based pellets and flakes, freeze-dried treats like krill and bloodworms, and the occasional live food such as blackworms or flies.
These fish do not bother any of their tankmates. Despite their large size - up to 10" maximum for males and around 7" for females - they can be bullied by more aggressive fish, but mine have fared well with a mix of peacocks, Fossorochromis, Copadichromis, Cyphotilapia, Neolamprologus, and Lepidiolamprologus. If they have to endure the negative attention of bullies, these fish are much less likely to spawn, but given a healthy environment, they will produce plenty of fry (somewhere around forty per batch). Smaller fish that are larger than bite-size, will do fine with P. sp. 'phenochilus tanzania'.
These beauties make excellent aquarium fish and are ideal for show tanks. That's really all you need to know.
These fish do not bother any of their tankmates. Despite their large size - up to 10" maximum for males and around 7" for females - they can be bullied by more aggressive fish, but mine have fared well with a mix of peacocks, Fossorochromis, Copadichromis, Cyphotilapia, Neolamprologus, and Lepidiolamprologus. If they have to endure the negative attention of bullies, these fish are much less likely to spawn, but given a healthy environment, they will produce plenty of fry (somewhere around forty per batch). Smaller fish that are larger than bite-size, will do fine with P. sp. 'phenochilus tanzania'.
These beauties make excellent aquarium fish and are ideal for show tanks. That's really all you need to know.
