Star-Spangled Jewel (Hemichromis stellifer) Care Guide
Hemichromis stellifer is a small Congo-basin jewel cichlid with a red body and iridescent blue spotting, a pair-bonding substrate brooder.
Overview
Hemichromis stellifer is a jewel cichlid described by Loiselle in 1979 and native to the Congo River basin in central Africa. It belongs to the smaller, more colourful members of the jewel-cichlid group, reaching about 10 cm in standard length. Following a 2022 taxonomic revision, the true jewel cichlids of this lineage are also placed in the genus Rubricatochromis, so the species is sometimes listed as Rubricatochromis stellifer.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Hemichromis
- Scientific name: Hemichromis stellifer
- Synonym: Rubricatochromis stellifer
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species occurs across central Africa from Equatorial Guinea to Cabinda, including central Gabon and the Congo River from Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool) to its estuary. It is a benthopelagic freshwater fish that inhabits creeks, streams and rivers, generally avoiding the swiftest sections of the Congo rapids.
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
Diet
The species is carnivorous, with FishBase reporting a trophic level of about 3.4. In the aquarium it accepts meaty prepared and frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp, fed twice daily in modest portions.
Compatibility
This is an aggressive, middle-water cichlid that is best kept as a bonded pair, ideally in a single-species tank or with robust West African companions such as larger Synodontis catfish. It is not safe with live plants and should be kept away from Rift Lake mbuna, hard-water cichlids, dwarf cichlids and slow-moving fish.
Breeding
Hemichromis stellifer is a pair-bonding substrate brooder. As in other jewel cichlids, the female deposits eggs on a flat surface such as a stone or leaf, and both parents guard the eggs and raise the fry.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 16 February 2009).