Pundamilia nyererei Care Guide
Pundamilia nyererei is a brightly coloured haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria, living near rocky shores and brooding eggs in the female's mouth.
Overview
Pundamilia nyererei is a haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria, described by Witte-Maas and Witte in 1985 and named after Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere. FishBase places it in the genus Pundamilia. It lives close to rocky shores and islands. Females are reported to prefer brighter, more colourful males during mate choice, a system that drives its vivid male coloration.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Pundamilia
- Scientific name: Pundamilia nyererei
- Authors: Witte-Maas & Witte, 1985
- Synonym: Haplochromis nyererei
Habitat
FishBase reports the species occurs in the close vicinity of rocky shores and rocky islands in Lake Victoria at depths of about 1-4 metres. The Victoria basin is warm and alkaline. It is one of several Pundamilia colour forms distributed across the southern part of the lake.
Tank requirements
- Maximum size: about 7.7 cm (3.0 in) SL (FishBase)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (FishBase)
- pH: 7.5-8.5 (KB record, alkaline Victoria water)
- Rocky aquascape with caves and territories
- Keep one male with several females
Diet
FishBase reports a trophic level of about 2.6 and notes the species feeds on algae and insects, indicating an omnivorous diet. In aquaria a varied diet with vegetable matter suits it.
Compatibility
As a colourful Victorian haplochromine it is best kept as one male with a group of females to spread aggression and prevent hybridisation with related haps. Suitable tankmates are other robust Victorian cichlids and Synodontis catfish; mixing with similarly coloured congeners should be avoided.
Breeding
FishBase confirms maternal mouthbrooding: females incubate the eggs and fry in the mouth. High resilience and a short minimum doubling time indicate frequent reproduction.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2010). Lake Victoria haplochromines as a group have suffered major declines from the introduced Nile perch.