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Etymology: venusta(L.): Unknown.

Synonyms: Nimbochromis venustus, Haplochromis simulans, Haplochromis venustus, Cyrtocara venusta.

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae

First European import: Unknown, Baensch and Riehl report 1970.

Description: See picture. Fully grown specimens are beautifully colored. The spots in males turn indigo blue, and the fins show an intense yellow seam.

Care: Nimbochromis venustus requires large tanks, in which only a single male, and two or more females are to be kept. Do not keep the fish with small fish as they are predatory. The fish can be kept in neutral water, but it's better to mimic the natural circumstances, pH around 8 and (medium) hard water. The fish don't eat plants, except for soft delicate plants. A sandy soil, with large stones in the back, placed in a way to create a large number of holes, of the tank are mandatory.

Temperature: 25-27 °C

Feeding: Predatory fish, can be fed with large live food, but will also accept frozen and flake food. Requires plant matter as part of the diet!

Size:Up to 25 cm.

pH: 7.0-8.5 Hardness: 10-18 dH

Breeding: Not too difficult. Maternal mouthbrooder, the female cares for the up to 120 eggs and fry for a period of 10 days. Not too particular about the watervalues, as long as the pH is above neutral.

Sexual dimorphism: Males colorful, females keep the juvenile appearance(see picture).

Prices:10-15€

Additional: In small tanks these fish cannot be kept!

Picture references: Pictures: E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)