Home / Fishes / Cichlids / Cichlidae / Haplochromis nyererei
No federal permit to keepHaplochromis nyererei
Haplochromis nyererei
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Haplochromis nyererei is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria in Africa.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.0 in / 7.7 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: A grazer on plants and algae: base the diet on vegetable foods (algae wafers, blanched vegetables, spirulina). FishBase classes it as a omnivore.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 18 in (roughly 64 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 73–81 °F, pH 7–8.5, 4–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “This species does not require a lot of open swimming space and displays a preference for rocky environments so much of the available space can be filled with rockwork arranged in such a way that many broken lines-of-sight are created.”
- Diet: “Omnivorous by nature, with wild fish feeding chiefly on aquatic invertebrates and zooplankton.”
- Tankmates: “Males in particular are aggressive and fully capable of killing other males if the tank does not contain sufficient cover.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Lake Victoria and East African haplochromines
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Lakes and rivers of East Africa. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Moderately hard, slightly alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5); rockwork and open swimming space.
- Many Lake Victoria species are endangered or extinct in the wild and survive mainly in hobby and zoo conservation programs; keep lines pure and never hybridize.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–80°F |
Diet
- Omnivorous pellets plus frozen foods; adjust to herbivores or predators by genus.
Health watch
- Aggression between males; bloat on overly rich diets.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This species can reach a length of 7.7 centimetres (3.0 in) SL. The specific name honours Julius Nyerere (1922–1999), who was president of Tanzania from 1961 to 1985. The females of Haplochromis species prefer male Haplochromis nyererei that are more colorful and brighter compared to the dull male Haplochromis.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Haplochromis nyererei” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in lakes. Uses both the bottom and open water. Occurs in the close vicinity of rocky shores and rocky islands. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–82 °F (22–28 °C), depth 1–4 m. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Grazing on aquatic plants. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: external brooders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–82 °F.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Haplochromis nyererei is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria in Africa. This species can reach a length of 7.7 cm SL. The specific name honours Julius Nyerere (1922–1999), who was president of Tanzania from 1961 to 1985. The females of Haplochromis species prefer male Haplochromis nyererei that are more colorful and brighter compared to the dull male Haplochromis. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | Mouthbrooding by females. — FishBase |
| Biology | Occurs in the close vicinity of rocky shores and rocky islands. Feeds on algae and insects. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 18 in (about 64 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More cichlids
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Aquarium hobby
Altolamprologus calvus
Altolamprologus calvus
Aquarium hobby
Altum Angel
Pterophyllum altum
Aquarium hobby
Anomalochromis thomasi
Anomalochromis thomasi
Aquarium hobby
Apistogramma eremnopyge
Apistogramma eremnopyge
Aquarium hobby
Argentine humphead
Gymnogeophagus balzanii
Aquarium hobby