Pelvicachromis humilis Breeding Guide
Breeding the large West African krib Pelvicachromis humilis, a cave-spawning dwarf cichlid that raises fry biparentally in soft, acidic water.
Overview
Pelvicachromis humilis is one of the largest kribs, reaching about 12.5 cm standard length. Seriously Fish gives its range as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, in soft, acidic West African waters. It is reported as not as easy to breed as some other members of the genus and is rare in the hobby, so a settled pair and stable soft-water conditions are important for success.
Sexing
Males are larger with pointed dorsal and anal fins, while females have rounder bodies. As in other kribs, a ripe female shows a fuller, more rounded belly when ready to spawn.
Conditioning
Condition adults on a varied diet over a period of weeks while holding soft, acidic water. Krib genus husbandry favours a mix of quality dried foods with live and frozen items to bring a pair into breeding condition.
Breeding Setup
- General maintenance: 24-27 °C, pH 5.0-7.0, hardness about 5-12 dH (Seriously Fish).
- Breeding conditions: around 24-26 °C with pH 5.5-6.5 (Seriously Fish).
- Décor: caves with an entrance accessible to the female, which helps reduce courtship aggression.
- Stocking: a single compatible monogamous pair in its own territory.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
This is a monogamous cave spawner. The eggs are laid on the roof or wall of the selected cave; soft, acidic water and a secure cave are the main spawning triggers. Courtship aggression occurs, and providing a cave whose entrance admits the female but excludes the male can help the pair settle.
Egg & Fry Care
According to Seriously Fish, the eggs hatch in 2-3 days and the fry become free-swimming after 7-8 days. The female tends the eggs in the cave while the male defends the territory. Once free-swimming, the fry accept brine shrimp nauplii or microworm as first foods.
Common Challenges
Reproduction is described as not as easy as in some other kribs, and the species is rare in the hobby. Maintaining genuinely soft, acidic water and managing courtship aggression in a well-structured tank are the main challenges.