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Freshwater fishVenustus Cichlid
Venustus Cichlid
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This popular cichlid has the colors of a giraffe with a blue face, grows to ten inches, and gets along with mbunas and peacocks. The color pattern is similar to the Haplochromis livingstoni, but the livingstoni males do not get the blue accents at maturity. Female venustus cichlids have the same gold and brown mottled pattern but do not grow quite as large and do not exhibit the blue markings.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Nimbochromis venustus |
| Origin | Lake Malawi, Africa |
| Care Level | Easy to moderate |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive (males territorial) |
| Adult Size | Up to 10" |
| Lifespan | 8–10 years |
| Diet | Omnivore (meaty foods) |
| Water Temperature | 76–82°F |
| pH | 7.8–8.6 |
| Shipping Size | Small: approx. 1½" · Medium: approx. 2" · Large: approx. 3" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Give them a sand bottom, open swimming space in front and rockwork along the back. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlids need hard, alkaline water; crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up.
Feeding: Feed a quality cichlid pellet or flake once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like brine shrimp.
Tankmates: Haps do well with peacocks and other haps of similar size, plus robust catfish like synodontis. Keep one male per similar-looking species, with several females, to limit fighting and crossbreeding.
Good to know: Venustus are ambush predators that will eat any small fish they can catch, including small mbuna.
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