Five-Banded Cichlid (Thysochromis ansorgii) Care Guide
Thysochromis ansorgii is a peaceful West African cichlid with five vertical bars and iridescent blue spotting, a pair-bonding substrate brooder for soft water.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Thysochromis ansorgii is a West African cichlid with a sandy-brown body marked by vertical bars and iridescent blue spotting. It is a relatively peaceful, pair-bonding species suited to soft-water community tanks. The synonym Pelmatochromis ansorgii is sometimes encountered in older literature.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Thysochromis
- Scientific name: Thysochromis ansorgii
- Common synonym: Pelmatochromis ansorgii
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species ranges across West and Central African coastal basins, from rivers in Ivory Coast (Agnébi, Me, Bia, Comoé, Tano) through forested coastal lowlands in Nigeria to the Ogowe basin in Gabon. It is a demersal freshwater fish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 120 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet
FishBase classifies the species as carnivorous with a trophic level of about 3.3, though it is omnivorous in practice. In the aquarium it accepts a varied diet of prepared, frozen and live foods, fed twice daily.
Compatibility
This is a peaceful, mid-water cichlid suited to a soft-water community with West African tetras, Congo tetras, Synodontis nigriventris and other peaceful West African cichlids. It should be kept away from Rift Lake mbuna and hard-water cichlids.
Breeding
Thysochromis ansorgii is a pair-bonding substrate brooder that spawns preferentially in caves or cave-like structures, with both parents tending the eggs and fry.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 22 April 2019).
Breeding Thysochromis ansorgii (Five-Banded Cichlid)
Overview
Thysochromis ansorgii is a cichlid native to coastal basins of West and Central Africa, from Ivory Coast to Gabon. According to FishBase it is a pair-bonding, substrate brooder that spawns preferentially in caves or cave-like structures. It reaches around 8.8 cm SL and lives in soft, slightly acidic freshwater. These traits make it a manageable substrate-spawning subject for soft-water aquaria.
Conditioning
Maintain water within the species' documented range: temperature 24-26 °C, pH 6.0-8.0 and hardness around 5-19 dH (FishBase). Soft, slightly acidic water reflects the natural habitat and is associated with successful pairing. Condition prospective breeders on a varied omnivorous diet to bring them into spawning condition.
Breeding Setup
Because the species spawns preferentially in caves or cave-like structures (FishBase), the breeding tank should offer enclosed spawning sites such as flat-roofed shelters or inverted vessels. A pair holds and defends a territory around the chosen cave. Soft, acidic to neutral water within the parameters above supports spawning.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
As a pair-bonding substrate brooder, the pair selects and cleans a spawning surface within or near the cave. In biparental substrate-spawning cichlids the female typically fans the eggs while the male guards the site from intruders, and after hatching both parents move the offspring and defend the swarm as it travels along the bottom (Tropical Fish Hobbyist). Substrate spawning with biparental care is regarded as the ancestral cichlid reproductive mode.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are deposited on the cleaned substrate and guarded by the pair. Once free-swimming, fry are herded as a school and defended by both parents. Newly free-swimming fry of small cichlids accept fine first foods such as freshly hatched brine shrimp and powdered fry preparations.
Common Challenges
Maintaining soft, slightly acidic water within the documented range is important for this West African species. Pair incompatibility and disturbance of the spawning cave can interrupt breeding; providing secure enclosed sites and stable parameters reduces failed attempts.