Hippo Point Salmon 4cm

Hippo Point ‘Salmon’ Cichlid

For the African cichlid collectors looking for an uncommon and unique species then the hippo point cichlid would be a great consideration. These are a medium size growing cichlid reaching around 10cm and are native to Lake Victoria in Africa. This species is actually a new introduction into the aquarium hobby and are a beautiful addition to larger aquariums as a species-only colony setting or community system. These fish are quite easy to keep and their beauty makes them a fantastic display tank consideration. 

Hippo Point ’salmon’ cichlids get their name from the hippo point location they are found out in the wild. The salmon part of their name comes from the deep red colour they develop which is similar to the classic spawning colours that sockeye salmon develop. Not only do these fish have bright red bodies but they also have shades of silver, green, blue, and yellow. These fish have pretty robust body for their size and as they mature, the array of colours start to come out. The shades of blue and silver are located around the face and fins whereas the reds, greens, and yellows are in the mid-section of the body. Salmon 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 Hippo Point ‘Salmon’ 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. After laying the eggs the female will capture the eggs in her mouth which the male will fertilize. The female will mouth brood the eggs until they reach a free-swimming size. 

Tank Recommendations for your Hippo Point ’Salmon’ Cichlid

Hippo Point ‘Salmon’ cichlids are semi-active fish. They spend a lot of time protecting 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 liters and around 4 feet minimum length. The main consideration for these fish is actually the aquarium environment itself. Since Hippo Point 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 

Hippo Point ‘Salmon’ 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 with the aggression of the Hippo Point ‘Salmon’ cichlid.  

Feeding your Hippo Point ’Salmon’

Hippo Point ‘Salmon’ 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.