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.
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).