Pelvicachromis roloffi Breeding Guide

Breeding Pelvicachromis roloffi, a soft-water West African dwarf cichlid that pairs off and spawns inside small caves with biparental care.

Overview

Pelvicachromis roloffi is a West African dwarf cichlid distributed from the River Kolente (Great Scarcies) in Guinea to western Liberia, found mainly in smaller rivers and creeks. FishBase records a maximum length of about 8 cm and very soft, slightly acidic water of pH 5.9-7.0, 1-2 dH and 24-26 C. Like the rest of the genus it is a pair-bonding cave spawner with biparental brood care.

Sexing

Pelvicachromis are sexually dimorphic dwarf cichlids in which the female leads courtship, often displaying and vibrating in front of the male. Ripe females develop intensified belly colour as they come into condition, while males are typically the larger sex with more extended finnage. Watching for a female that begins to display is the most reliable cue that a pair is ready.

Conditioning

An omnivorous diet of small live and frozen foods alongside prepared foods brings adults into breeding condition. Keeping the pair in stable soft water that matches the species' natural very low hardness supports egg development and reduces the chance of failed or fungused spawns.

Breeding Setup

Provide soft, acidic water within the FishBase range (pH 5.9-7.0, 1-2 dH, 24-26 C) and at least one cave-like spawning site such as a clay pot, pipe section or coconut shell, since the genus lays eggs in any such enclosed structure. A planted, dimly lit tank with several potential sites lets the female choose and reduces tension between the pair.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

After the female initiates courtship the pair selects and cleans a cave, and the female deposits the eggs inside. In Pelvicachromis the female typically lays 50-300 eggs in the cave and the pair then guards the clutch together. Soft acidic water and a securely bonded pair are the principal triggers.

Egg & Fry Care

Both parents guard the cave; in the genus the eggs hatch within roughly 3-8 days and the fry become free-swimming within about 5-10 days. Once free-swimming the brood is led around the tank by the parents and can be fed brine shrimp nauplii and microworm. Note that in Pelvicachromis the relative acidity or alkalinity of the spawning water is reported to skew the sex ratio of the resulting brood.

Common Challenges

The chief challenges are maintaining the very soft, low-hardness water the species comes from and securing a compatible bonded pair, as forced pairings may not settle immediately. Offering small-mouthed caves and stable parameters improves spawning success and keeps the guarding pair from turning on each other.