Bumblebee Cichlid (Pseudotropheus crabro)
| Bumblebee Cichlid Pseudotropheus crabro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Bumblebee Cichlid |
| Name Lat. | Pseudotropheus crabro |
| Family | Cichlids |
| Family lat. | Cichlidae |
| Order | Cichlids |
| Order lat. | Cichliformes |
| Origin | Lake Malawi |
| Habitat | Rocky habitat |
| Diet | Omnivore, aufwuchs |
| pH | 7.5-8.8 |
| Behavior | Aggressive |
| Keeping | Harem |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Reproduction | Mouthbrooder |
| Breeding | Simple |
| Life Span | 5-8 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 11-15 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 °C |
| Hardness | 10-25 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 400 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 4.3"-6" |
| Temperature | 75-82 °F |
| Hardness | 178-445 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 100 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The range of the chameleon mouthbrooders is exclusively (endemically) Lake Malawi, where they are distributed lake-wide and usually hide in large caves during the day. They belong to the group of mbuna, which lives in the rocky shore zones.
Maintenance
The aquarium setup should have rock structures reaching to the water surface, with many crevices, caves and shelters that serve as hiding places, as well as robust plants and some free sand areas. There should be no detectable ammonia, ammonium or nitrite, and the nitrate level should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.
Diet
They feed mainly on the plant cover (growth) and the microorganisms contained therein, as well as on plankton. The food supply consists of live, frozen and dry food. For a balanced diet, feed once daily with a high-quality dry food for Malawi cichlids (flakes, granules, pellets) as well as cyclops, daphnia, artemia and plankton (live or frozen). They also need plant food, such as algae leaves and commercial green food (kelp, spirulina). Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
They are lively and assertive mbunas. Males occupy territories only briefly, which they defend vigorously. They should be kept in a harem, one male with several females or better in a large group. In this way social structures are formed which reduce quarrels. Keeping a group is only recommended in a larger and richly structured tank. They can be socialized well with other robust cichlids from Lake Malawi, especially from the Mbuna group. Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water conditions and water temperature should be socialized.
Sex dimorphism
The male is more strongly colored and has several, clearly pronounced yellow egg spots on the anal fin, which are weaker or absent in the female. The female has a dull, yellowish ground coloration.
Reproduction and breeding
They are maternal mouth brooders. Immediately after spawning, on a rock or in a small burrow, the females take the eggs into their throat sac for mouthbrooding. They keep the fry in their throat sac even after hatching. After about 4 weeks, the fry are released and brood care ends. During the entire brood care, the female does not take any food.
Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (Artemia nauplii). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry is easy prey.
Important
They can very quickly change their body coloration from dark to light and vice versa. In their natural environment they eat parasites from the scales of Bagrus meridionalis, a large catfish species.
Red mosquito larvae should not be fed, as they can damage the digestive tract
The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least fortnightly. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Sylvia Hos; Image: Barbara Pachner
Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2004): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 3, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF