Buffalohead Cichlid (Steatocranus casuarius) Care Guide
Steatocranus casuarius is a rheophilic Congo rapids cichlid with a nuchal hump in adult males, a bottom-dwelling cave spawner needing strong current.
Overview
Steatocranus casuarius, known as the Buffalohead or Lionhead cichlid, is a rheophilic cichlid from the Congo River. Adult males develop a distinctive nuchal hump on the forehead. It reaches about 10 cm in total length and has a reduced swim bladder, an adaptation to fast-flowing water that makes it perch and hop along the bottom rather than swim in open water.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Steatocranus
- Scientific name: Steatocranus casuarius
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species occurs in Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool) and the lower Congo River in both the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a demersal, rheophilic freshwater fish of fast, oxygen-rich rapids over a rocky bed.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Water flow: high, well oxygenated
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
Steatocranus casuarius is an omnivore; FishBase reports that it feeds primarily on algae in the wild. In the aquarium it takes a varied diet of prepared foods with vegetable content alongside small frozen invertebrates, fed twice daily.
Compatibility
This is a semi-aggressive, bottom-dwelling species. It is best kept with active mid-water companions from the same region, such as Congo tetras and Synodontis nigriventris, in a setup providing plenty of rocky cover. It should not be combined with Rift Lake mbuna, hard-water cichlids or slow open-water fish, and it is not safe with delicate plants.
Breeding
The species is a pair-bonding cave spawner. FishBase reports clutches of roughly 20-150 eggs deposited inside a cave, with both parents tending the eggs and guarding the fry.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 16 February 2009).