Haplochromis sp. Kenya Gold
Haplochromis sp. Kenya Gold pictured.
- Common Names: Also called Gold Kenya.
- Locations collected from: Collected on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria.
- Approximate Size: 3 – 3.5 inches
- Food: Not a picky eater. Will eat flake food, brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae, and pellet foods without hesitation.
- pH 7.5 – 8.3
- Temperature: 76 – 82 degrees F.
- Breeding Behavior: Mouthbrooder. They like to have rocks to hide in. Multiple males can be housed in the same aquarium depending on the size of the tank (I had 3 males and 12 females in a 40 gallon). Multiple females for each male is recommended. Multiple males can be housed in the same aquarium depending on the size of the tank (I had 3 males and 12 females in a 40 gallon). Males will defend their territory and chase the females around spawning time. They are one of, if not the most peaceful Victorian Cichlid species that I have kept. My 2 inch females would brood for 15 – 20 days and had spawns of 10 – 15 fry.
- Care of the fry: Newly released fry can eat crushed flake food, baby brine shrimp, and other small foods. The fry should be given several small feedings per day. Spawns can be kept in a 10-gallon tank up to an inch in size. They are not picky about water conditions. Males start to develop adult coloration at about 1.5 inches.
- Tankmates: Should do well with a variety of tankmates. I kept mine in with Eretmodus cyanostictus, Neolamprologus pulcher “Daffodil”, Cyprichromis leptosoma “Blue Flash”, Neolamprologus tretocephalus juveniles (1 – 2.5 inches), Lamprologus brevis, Synodontis petricola, Julidochromis dickfeldi, Julidochromis marlieri, Labidochromis sp. Hongi, Copadichromis trewavasae, and Labidochromis sp. Mbamba.
- Tank size: I kept 1 male and 7 females in a 40 gallon (24x24x18) aquarium.