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Common Name:
Red Jewel, Crown Jewel Cichlid
Scientific Name:Hemichromis cristatus
Description:The dwarf West African are the 'Jewel of the Forest'. The countries of Guinea, Ghana, and Nigeria are the home of these outstanding and hard to find fish.
They are easy to differentiate from any of the other jewels especially H. lifalili by the fact that the center spot on their side is surrounded by yellow. In addition the opucular spot is golden yellow. There are 4-5 rows of irradescent blue spots along the body. At maurity these fish are more red orange than H. lifalili.
Origin:They are easy to differentiate from any of the other jewels especially H. lifalili by the fact that the center spot on their side is surrounded by yellow. In addition the opucular spot is golden yellow. There are 4-5 rows of irradescent blue spots along the body. At maurity these fish are more red orange than H. lifalili.
West Africa: Guinea, Ghana, and Nigeria
Max Size:6 inches
Minimum Tank Size:30 gallons
Swim Area:All Areas
Life Span:5 years or more
Temperature Range (F):76 - 82 F
pH:6.0 - 7.0
Hardness (dH):8 - 17 dH
Diet:Omnivore
Additional Diet Information:Flake, freeze dried, frozen, or live foods (brine shrimp, earthworms, fruit flies and pinhead crickets.)
Gender Difference:Monomorphic
Male and females colored similar except female tends to be smaller than the male. Red orange base color with three spots: slight caudal mark, large central mark dark in color and surrounded with yellow, and a yellow opucular mark. 4-5 rows of iridescent blue spots along the body.
Breeding:Substrate Spawner
Nest on rock or leaf on the bottom or in a scrape in the sand. Males and females guard the nest and fry until a new batch of eggs come along. Do Not remove the parents - half the fun is watching them with their young.
Temperament/Social Behavior:- Aggressive, Will eat smaller fish, Fin Nipper, Best if kept with similar sized fish, Territorial
Easily Obtained