Paracycprichromis nigripinnis  

Paracyprichromis nigripinnis group includes Cyprochromis leptosoma, C. species "Leptosoma jumbo", C. microlepidotus, Paracyprichromis brieni and P.nigripinnis

These cichlids are called "herring cichlids" and they live in rather large schools. They feed on plankton in the mid-water  and males use to defend a territory with  three dimensions above large rocks and caves. Their colonies comprise from males, while the schools of females are seperated from them.

They are cave dweller cichlids with a maximum size of about 11 cm. Males defend a territory near the ceiling of an underwater cave and they are aggressive towards other males. It is better to be kept in pairs in captivity, although an excess of females is better.

When more than one male is kept per tank it is better to keep as many males as possible, so their aggression will be spread better. It is essential to feed them with foods rich in spirulina because their delicate coloration saws better when fed with such foods. Artemia salina and plankton are also very nice foods for these fish. If they are used in live or frozen foods they will hardly accept dry or freeze dried foods.

Use dark gravel and subdued lights for their tanks as bright lights will make them to shy and will fade their coloration. The mouthbrooding females release their fry in swallow waters near the sandy shores for protection. You may use some plants (Ceratophyllum demersum) in their tanks so the fry will be protected during their first days of their lifes.

 Photo by Mike Iannibeli, text by Andreas Iliopoulos.