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Nanochromis transvestitus, Stewart & Roberts, 1984

Origin: Lake Mai-Ndombe, near Ipeke; (formerly Lake Leopold II or Lake Inonongo) in Zaire. In this blackwater lake N. transvestitus lives in rocky, sandy areas

Etymology: Transvestitus, after transvestite. The name was chosen because it is the female that is the most colorful of the pair. Other fish that exhibit this uncommon feature are Sphaerichthys vaillanti and some barbs.

Synonyms: None

First European import: Germany, 1985

Description: See pictures

Care: Although the fish are found in very soft dark tea-colored water with a pH of 4, Nannochromis transvestitus can be kept in soft, slightly acidic water. It's best to keep a single pair, since the fish are somewhat aggressiv, and require a reasonably large territorium. In a meter tank you can keep more fish, provided it is well planted. Adding some driftwood to the tank is beneficial. The fish inhabit the lower and middle regions of the tank. It will sometimes dig a little in the substrate, but rarely uproot plants. The substrate should be sandy

Temperature:24-27 degrees

Feeding: Live and frozen food, flake food is also accepted.

Size: Males up to 7 cm, females smaller, up to 6 cm.

pH: 5.0-7.0

Breeding: In a 60 cm tank a breeding pair can be introduced. The water should be soft, and acidic. Some reports state that the fish will only breed at a pH of 5 or less, although other sources report that it can be bred at 6.5. I bred the fish at pH 4.5 in a meter tank. The female should be ready, or else she'll need enough hideouts to be able to escape the male. Prior to breeding the fish will select a suitable breeding place, which is mostly under a piece of driftwood or a flat stone. The couple will dig a hole, and spawn against the surface. The female will care for the eggs and the fry, while the male guards the spawning area. Occasionally the female will wander of in search of food, and the male will take her place.The up to 70 1mm large white eggs, will hatch in 2-3 days(at 26 degrees), and are free swimming 4 days later. At this stage the fry immediately accept freshly hatched artemia nauplii, and combined with daily waterchanges they grow quite fast. After two weeks the fry can stand a slow rise in the pH to 6 or 7, which will make the waterchanges easier. At 2 cm the fry can be sexed by the vertical bars in the caudal fin.

Sexual dimorphism: Females have black and white vertical bars in the anal and caudal fin, and a bright red belly. The males have elongated dorsal and anal fins, and are larger.

Prices: Breeders sell fish between 5 and 10 €.

Additional: A breeding report is under construction.

Picture references: All pictures: E. Naus

References:

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