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No federal permit to keepEgyptian mouthbrooder
Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor
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The Egyptian mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor) is a species of cichlid.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.1 in / 8 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 68–75°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6.8–7.2.
- Hardness: 10–14 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.
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, 68–79 °F, pH 6.5–7.2, 5–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: in a pair.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “The tank should contain plenty of hiding places.”
- Tankmates: “Can be aggressive towards other species inhabiting the lower reaches of the aquarium.”
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
This small mouthbrooder reaches about 8 cm (3.1 in) in length, and is found in rivers, lakes, and other freshwater habitats in Eastern Africa from Egypt and as far south as Tanzania. The common name Egyptian mouthbrooder was often limited to its northern nominate subspecies, in which case the southern P. m.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Egyptian mouthbrooder” (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, lakes. Stays near the bottom. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 68–75 °F (20–24 °C), pH 6.8–7.2, hardness 10–14 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: external brooders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 68–75 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 82°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 58°F (down to 51°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 64–75°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 69–76% on average (driest month about 62%) |
| Rainfall | about 1160 mm a year |
Measured at 84 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.
| Overview | The Egyptian mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor) is a species of cichlid. This small mouthbrooder reaches about 8 cm in length, and is found in rivers, lakes, and other freshwater habitats in Eastern Africa from Egypt and as far south as Tanzania. The common name Egyptian mouthbrooder was often limited to its northern nominate subspecies, in which case the southern P. m. victoriae is called the dwarf Victoria mouthbrooder. These subspecies are not universally regarded as valid. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| 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 |
| Reproduction | Females takes the brood into her mouth and takes care of the young. — FishBase |
| Biology | Inhabits streams and ponds. Feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects, algae, vegetable fragments and small fish. Ovophilic, agamous maternal mouthbrooder; no pair-bonding takes place. — 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 total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Veterinary & husbandry research
Veterinary & husbandry research
- Heterosporis schuberti n.sp., a new microsporidian parasite of aquarium fish Lom J et al., European journal of protistology 1989
Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. 170
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.
- PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
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