Home / Fishes / Cichlids / Cichlidae / Nanochromis transvestitus
No federal permit to keepNanochromis transvestitus
Nanochromis transvestitus
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Nanochromis transvestitus is a sexually dimorphic cichlid endemic to Lake Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where they live at a depth of around 1 metre (3.3 ft).
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 1.3 in / 3.4 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 5–6.
- Hardness: 5–12 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- 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: soft, acidic water, 75–81 °F, pH 4–7, 0–12 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; in a pair.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “The tank should contain plenty of hiding places for this shy species.”
- Diet: “It will accept most foods offered but live and frozen varieties should form the bulk of the diet.”
- Tankmates: “Relatively peaceful with other species that can cope with the soft and acidic water conditions it requires.”
- Breeding: “Not easy as the species will not usually spawn in water with a pH value of much above 6.0.”
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
It feeds on small benthic invertebrates. This species reaches a length of 3.4 centimetres (1.3 in) SL. Unusually for cichlids, it is the female, not the male, that is the most colourful.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Nanochromis transvestitus” (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. Stays near the bottom. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–79 °F (24–26 °C), pH 5–6, hardness 5–12 dH, depth 1–1 m. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–79 °F.
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 | Nanochromis transvestitus is a sexually dimorphic cichlid endemic to Lake Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where they live at a depth of around 1 m. It feeds on small benthic invertebrates. This species reaches a length of 3.4 cm SL. Unusually for cichlids, it is the female, not the male, that is the most colourful. — 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 |
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.
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.
More cichlids
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Aquarium hobby
Altolamprologus calvus
Altolamprologus calvus
Aquarium hobby
Altum Angel
Pterophyllum altum
Aquarium hobby
Anomalochromis thomasi
Anomalochromis thomasi
Aquarium hobby
Apistogramma eremnopyge
Apistogramma eremnopyge
Aquarium hobby
Argentine humphead
Gymnogeophagus balzanii
Aquarium hobby