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No federal permit to keepBanded jewel cichlid
Hemichromis elongatus
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Hemichromis elongatus, the banded jewel cichlid, is a freshwater fish found in the Okavango River and upper Zambezi River.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 36 in long and 15 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 7.4 in / 18.7 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–77°F (range recorded for this species).
- Hardness: 0–15 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
- 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
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 72–77 °F, pH 6.5–7.5, 5–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament predatory; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Decorate the tank with plenty of twisted roots and branches to provide hiding places and cover.”
- Diet: “Piscivorous by nature but it can easily be trained to accept dead alternatives.”
- Tankmates: “Highly aggressive and piscivorous.”
- Breeding: “It's a substrate spawning species that forms monogamous pair bonds.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
West, Central and southern African river cichlids and tilapias
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: African rivers, streams and lakes. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Kribensis and other dwarf West Africans do well in planted 20–30 gallon tanks with caves and neutral water.
- Tilapias and Serranochromis grow large and are often kept in ponds or for aquaculture.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–82°F |
Diet
- Omnivorous pellets plus frozen foods; tilapias need plant matter.
Health watch
- Several tilapias are invasive and regulated by many states; never release.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
The fish also occurs in the Congo River system and in West Africa.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Hemichromis elongatus” (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 rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Found in shallow lakes and streams. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–77 °F (23–25 °C), pH 7, hardness 15 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters, biparental parental care. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–77 °F.
- Parents guard eggs or young, so expect territorial behavior when breeding.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 88°F (up to 94°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 65°F (down to 45°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 72–78°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 71–83% on average (driest month about 75%) |
| Rainfall | about 1600 mm a year |
Measured at 302 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
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.
| 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 |
| Appearance and size | Maximum length 18.7 cm sl male/unsexed. — FishBase |
| Biology | Adults are found in shallow lakes and streams. Highly predaceous and thus used in some areas for tilapia control; feeds on fish, shrimp and aquatic insects; very aggressive and territorial; Parents guard the nest and larvae. Pair-bonding, substrate brooder. — 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
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.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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