Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid Care Guide
Hemichromis lifalili is a small red jewel cichlid from the Congo basin, reaching about 10 cm and becoming very aggressive when spawning.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Hemichromis lifalili is a red jewel cichlid described by Loiselle in 1979. FishBase gives a standard length of about 8.2 cm, and Seriously Fish a maximum of around 10 cm. Mature fish are deep red with iridescent blue spotting. It is distinguished from H. bimaculatus by having two black flank spots. Recent taxonomy places the species in the genus Rubricatochromis; the name Hemichromis lifalili remains in widespread aquarium use.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Hemichromis
- Scientific name: Hemichromis lifalili
- Authority: Loiselle, 1979
- Note: recently reclassified under the genus Rubricatochromis
Habitat
The species occurs in the Congo River basin (excluding the Shaba/Katanga region and the Kasai), in the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a freshwater, benthopelagic fish of forested and savannah-like areas with gallery forest, absent from rapids and swampy zones.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Best kept as a single bonded pair with cover
Diet
Hemichromis lifalili is primarily carnivorous and accepts most foods. Seriously Fish notes that live foods enhance its colour and that some vegetable matter, such as spirulina or blanched greens, is also taken.
Compatibility
Outside breeding the fish is relatively placid but becomes very aggressive when spawning, so it is not recommended for general community tanks. Seriously Fish suggests larger characins such as Congo tetras, Synodontis, loricariids and some other African cichlids as tankmates. It is best maintained as a bonded pair; introducing established adults often leads to aggression.
Breeding
Breeding is comparatively straightforward. The fish is a monogamous substrate spawner that lays on flat rocks or in flowerpots. Seriously Fish reports clutches of up to about 400 eggs that hatch in roughly 48 hours, with strong biparental brood care for about a month.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009).
Hemichromis lifalili Breeding Guide
Overview
Hemichromis lifalili, the blood-red jewel cichlid, comes from the lower and central Congo River basin and grows to about 8-10 cm. It is a monogamous, pair-bonding open-substrate spawner that displays its most intense red during breeding. The species is territorial, particularly males during spawning, and feeds mainly on worms, crustaceans, insects and small fish plus some vegetable matter.
Sexing
Sexing is subtle outside the breeding season, when females are leaner and show a brighter red while males develop larger, more robust heads. During the mating period almost the whole body turns red in both sexes. Allowing a group to pair off naturally is the most reliable way to obtain a compatible bonded pair.
Conditioning
These hearty eaters readily accept flakes, sticks and pellets and come into breeding condition quickly when well fed. A documented spawning was conditioned on prepared foods at 76 F, pH 7.6 and 110 ppm hardness, within the broader FishBase tolerances of pH 6.5-7.5, 2-12 dH and 22-24 C.
Breeding Setup
Provide a tank with rocks, flat stones and plants; the pair will rearrange plants to open a central spawning area. Open flat surfaces serve as spawning sites, and the male courts by darting between the current and next site with inviting head motions. Soft to neutral warm water in the FishBase range suits spawning.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The female lays about 400 eggs, and up to 400-500 may be laid per spawn, on a flat stone which the male immediately fertilises. A securely bonded pair, good condition and stable warm water are the main triggers.
Egg & Fry Care
Care is biparental: both parents guard the eggs, with the female as the main caregiver, while the male helps once the eggs hatch. At about 25.5 C eggs hatch after roughly 48 hours and fry are free-swimming after around five and a half to seven days. Parents help feed the brood by taking mouthfuls of sand and spitting them into the cloud of fry, which readily accept de-encapsulated brine shrimp fed three to four times daily.
Common Challenges
The species' strong aggression, especially in spawning males, is the main difficulty, so the breeding tank should be spacious and well-structured and tankmates robust. A securely bonded pair guarding a clutch will defend a large area, which should be planned for in the layout.