An Overlooked Gem
Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander is a fascinating small cichlid, closely related to the Egyptian Mouthbrooder. However, it distinguishes itself with characteristic blue lips and is generally slightly more colorful. As an aquarist, it is a pleasure to keep a species found so widely across Africa, including river systems and lakes such as Victoria, Malawi, and Tanganyika.
Behavior and Tank Conditions
The species is relatively easy to keep and exhibits moderate aggressiveness, which is significantly less than that of many typical Malawi cichlids. They are not major diggers, though during spawning, the male will create a small depression in the gravel for the mating process. It is an excellent choice if you want to try keeping a mouthbrooder that is not endemic to the great East African lakes.
Breeding and Fry Care
As a mouthbrooder, the incubation period is approximately two weeks. My own experiences with brood sizes have been around 60 fry, although one should be aware that some mortality can occur during the early stages.
Growth and Feeding
A common misconception is that P. philander philander grows slowly. My experience shows that if fed intensively with plenty of newly hatched brine shrimp, they actually grow quite rapidly. I have observed fry reaching a size of 2.5 cm after just one and a half months, already showing signs of their beautiful adult coloration.
