Pelvicachromis Rubrolabiatus

[BLACKWATER BIOTOPE]

Hello World.

I have just ordered two pairs of PELVICACHROMIS RUBROLABIATUS and would like as much info as possible.
ie PH ,PPM, What kind of Substrate. Anything which will aid me in keeping these fish alive and well and then onto breeding them.

Regards

BWB

 

[ste12000]

Do you have much experience with dwarf cichlids?? P.Rubrolabiatus are a difficult species to work with and i wonder if you have jumped in at the deep end, let me know and ill share my observations so far..Cheers.

 

[tjudy]

P. rubrolabiatus is one og hte larger and more aggressive kribs. They need space and lots of cover. If you plan to put all four fish in the same tank, I would use a tank with bas dimensions of at least 80cm x 40 cm. I also would use a lot of driftwood to create a refuge for the low fish on the pecking order. What you can expect is for one pair to become very dominant and the other to be mercilessly harassed. If there are plenty of places to hide, and some other dithers such as large tetras, the weaker pair may survive. IF you decide to take the weaker pair out, however, you will risk the remaining pair warring with each other. IME, this is one species that needs others of its kind to beat on in order for the pair to settle in and not kill each other.

Other than the aggression... treat them like any other Pelvicachromis sp. Go easy on the protein. Flake foods high in vegetable matter should make up the bulk of their diet. I use a mix of sand and fine gravel as a substrate. These fish will sift sand like an eartheater.

Good luck! P. rubroabiatus are very cool fish.

 

[Heiko Bleher]

Hi,

this is Heiko bleher, the discoverer of P. rubrolineatus (never given credit to...).
The fish I found in black water of very low pH (less than 5.0) and extreme soft water. You should have the pair in a not to small tank, with driftwood, some plants (if you want, Anubias, is best) and also white (oer beige) sand on the bottom and a cave where the female can hide (you need placed to hide, as sometimes the male can get aggressive during mating, also the females). But in general it should be no problem to keep them, as long as they are quarantained and well feed.

They are beauties, fantastic fishes...

Good luck, and regards from a collector

Heiko Bleher
www.aquapress-bleher.com

 

[phil wood]

Hello Heiko

Thanks for the info on these fish, They just arrived today one thing i dont have in my tank is sand but will work on that when i split the two pairs up when they have naturally paired off.


Regards

Phil Wood

 

[Microman]

Theres been a few imports of these along with quite a few other nice wild Pelvicachromis species imported into the UK recently via Glasers(Germany).
Our first import of rubrolabiatus was all female but fortunately we got mostly males a week later in the next shipment.
Cracking looking fish....
Mark...

 

[phil wood]

West African imports

Mark

I would be very interested in other West African imports you currently have or will be getting soon.
I am on the lookout for Nanochromis Nudiceps and a female Concochromis Sabine.

Regards

Phil Wood