Flame Back Cichlid 3.5cm

Flameback Cichlid
 

For African Cichlid collectors looking for an uncommon and unique species then the flame-back cichlid would be a great consideration. These are a medium size growing cichlid reaching around 10cm and are native to lake Victoria in Africa. Due to the introduction of the Nile perch into lake Victoria, this species has taken a hit in population due to predation. Keeping these stunning fish in captivity is a great way to ensure that the species remains alive for generations to come. With a large enough tank, these fish are quite easy to keep and their beauty makes them a fantastic display tank consideration. 

Flame back cichlids get their name from the incredibly striking colours that males develop. These fish have pretty robust body for their size and as they mature, the array of colours really start to come out. The most notable feature is the deep orange colour that runs across the nape of the fish, starting from the top lip and ending at the tail. They can also develop green and yellow stripes which are broken up by jet-black barring to really add some contrast. With the sheer amount of contrast these cichlids have and that deep orange nape, it really does look like they are on fire. Flameback cichlids do reach around 10 cm and are regarded to be quite aggressive so it is usually best to keep them with other similar-natured fish or in a species-only setting. 

Trying to find the males and females in flame-back cichlids is really quite easy as these males are far more colourful compared to females. The easiest method is to look at the egg spots on the anal fin of the fish. Males will have bright orange egg spots which are a key part of the breeding process. 

Tank recommendations for your Flameback Cichlid

Flameback cichlids are semi-active fish. They spend a lot of time wishing for their territory often hanging out near caves and rock ledges. They are not an open-water swimmer like African peacock cichlids but they still do need space because of their territorial behaviour. Flame back cichlids can be kept in a group or in a solitary setting but they may not be as active and presentable when kept totally alone. It would be recommended to have some other cichlids with them. 

The fish when kept in a group will need a tank that is at least 470 litres and around 4 feet minimum length. The main consideration for these fish is actually the aquarium environment itself. Since flame-back cichlids can be aggressive to one another, it is best to have a lot of visual breaks in the tank. These fish also need a higher PH of around 8.0, this can be maintained through the use of crushed coral or aragonite sand and conditioning salts. 

Suitable Tank Buddies

Flameback cichlids are particularly territorial but they do spend a lot of their time near the bottom of the tank. This means they should be fine with African peacocks and other larger cichlid species. Aggression can be avoided by keeping them in a large aquarium with lots of visual breaks.  

Usually Compatible

African peacocks, star sapphire cichlids, Mdoka white lips and blue dolphin cichlids. 

Sometimes Compatible

Larger haps such as Fuscodichromis and bottom-dwelling cichlids like xenotilapia

Rarely Compatible

Smaller African cichlids like shell dwellers, calvus and julidochromis would be far too small and get destroyed by the aggression of the flame-back cichlid.  

Feeding your Flameback Cichlid

Flameback cichlids like other African cichlids are very easy to feed. They are an opportunistic feeder and will readily eat a wide range of foods both dry, fresh, and frozen. Their diet should contain good quality African cichlid pellets with high contents of spirulina or greens. Feeding these fish once a day will be perfectly fine.