Jewel Cichlid

COMMON NAMES: Jewel Cichlid.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hemichromis bimaculatus.

DESIGNATION: Tropical.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Tropical Africa.

SIZE: Up to 15 cm (6 in) - usually muchsmaller.

WATER PREFERENCES: Not critical.Temperature: around 25°C (77°F).

DIET: All foods, particularly livefoods.

BREEDING: Eggs are laid on bogwood or stonesand defended vigorously by both parents. Thisspecies exhibits intense brood care.

DESCRIPTION: Jewel Cichlids arevery aggressive, particularly during spawning. It is maintained by some that thefish we know as H. bimaculatus is, in fact H.guttatus, the former species being quite rarein aquaria.