Dwarfcichlid.com

Practical Information About Keeping, Breeding and Buying Dwarf Cichlids

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Fish Profiles & Photos

Apistogramma
    agassizii
    atahualpa
    baenschi
    borellii
    cacatuoides
    commbrae
    geisleri
    gephyra
    gibbiceps
    hoignei
    hongsloi
    iniridae
    macmasteri
    ortmanni
    panduro
    paucisquamis
    pertensis
    rubrolineata
    sp. "Abacaxis"
    sp. "Putumayo"
    sp. "Steel Blue"
    steindachneri
    uaupesi
    xingu

Apistogrammoides
pucallpaensis
Dicrossus
   filamentosus
Laetacara
   curviceps
Mikrogeophagus
    altispinosa
    ramirezi
      Breeding Rams

West African

Nanochromis
parilus
transvestitus

Pelvicachromis
    pulcher
    roloffi
    subocellatus
    taeniatus

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West African Dwarf Cichlids

    West African Dwarf cichlids are great aquarium fish that are rarely seen in most areas. The lone exception to this is the common Kribensis or Krib Pelvicachromis pulcher. West African cichlids come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and occupy a diversity of habitats. With South American cichlids there are some very logical breaks as to which fish are considered dwarfs and which are not. However, with West Africans this is not so easily done. There are a number of species that make excellent aquarium fish that could be considered dwarfs by some definitions but will not be included in this site.

     Pelvicachromis, Nanochromis and related genuses are fascinating aquarium residents. They have great colors and patterns and usually have distinct differences between male and female fish. They often form strong pair bonds and are usually great parents. They will normally ignore plants and will get along with most other fishes of appropriate size and temperament. Most West African dwarfs will do fine in moderately soft pH neutral water. Unfortunately, a few require extremely soft very acid water. These fish will usually live in other conditions but reproduction will rarely be successful.

     With the exception of Kribs, most West African dwarf cichlids that are offered for retail sale in America are wild imports. Many distributors have access to some type of West African dwarfs but few pet shops request them so they are not very common. Of course, the common krib is found in many stores. These are normally from farmed sources but there are wild imports that can be found on occasion.

     In recent years there has been an increase in the number of hobbyists who keep and breed these West African gems. This has created a fairly steady supply of some species which are made available through mail order sources.

Copyright This website and all contents and design, including images, are protected under U.S. Copyright © 2006 by Montana Exotic Tropicals. All rights reserved worldwide. Dwarfcichlid.com is for your personal and noncommercial use. No one may modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, or publish any materials contained in dwarf cichlid.com without prior written permission. dwarf cichlid.com is a registered service mark and may not be used without permission.

Dwarfcichlid.com Practical Information About Keeping, Breeding and Buying Dwarf Cichlids
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Fish Profiles & Photos South American Apistogramma agassizii atahualpa baenschi borellii cacatuoides commbrae geisleri gephyra gibbiceps hoignei hongsloi iniridae macmasteri ortmanni panduro paucisquamis pertensis rubrolineata sp. "Abacaxis" sp. "Putumayo" sp. "Steel Blue" steindachneri uaupesi xingu Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis Dicrossus filamentosus Laetacara curviceps Mikrogeophagus altispinosa ramirezi Breeding Rams West African Nanochromis parilus transvestitus Pelvicachromis pulcher roloffi subocellatus taeniatus Please help! Your contribution of any amount will help support the site.	West African Dwarf Cichlids West African Dwarf cichlids are great aquarium fish that are rarely seen in most areas. The lone exception to this is the common Kribensis or Krib Pelvicachromis pulcher. West African cichlids come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and occupy a diversity of habitats. With South American cichlids there are some very logical breaks as to which fish are considered dwarfs and which are not. However, with West Africans this is not so easily done. There are a number of species that make excellent aquarium fish that could be considered dwarfs by some definitions but will not be included in this site. Pelvicachromis, Nanochromis and related genuses are fascinating aquarium residents. They have great colors and patterns and usually have distinct differences between male and female fish. They often form strong pair bonds and are usually great parents. They will normally ignore plants and will get along with most other fishes of appropriate size and temperament. Most West African dwarfs will do fine in moderately soft pH neutral water. Unfortunately, a few require extremely soft very acid water. These fish will usually live in other conditions but reproduction will rarely be successful. With the exception of Kribs, most West African dwarf cichlids that are offered for retail sale in America are wild imports. Many distributors have access to some type of West African dwarfs but few pet shops request them so they are not very common. Of course, the common krib is found in many stores. These are normally from farmed sources but there are wild imports that can be found on occasion. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of hobbyists who keep and breed these West African gems. This has created a fairly steady supply of some species which are made available through mail order sources. Copyright This website and all contents and design, including images, are protected under U.S. Copyright © 2006 by Montana Exotic Tropicals. All rights reserved worldwide. Dwarfcichlid.com is for your personal and noncommercial use. No one may modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, or publish any materials contained in dwarf cichlid.com without prior written permission. dwarf cichlid.com is a registered service mark and may not be used without permission.