Congo lionhead cichlid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Congo lionhead cichlid |
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The Congo lionhead cichlid (scientific name: Lamprologus congoensis) is a type of cichlid fish. It lives in rivers and is found all over the Congo River. This fish is very important because it is the main example for its group of fish called Lamprologus.
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About the Congo Lionhead Cichlid
The Congo lionhead cichlid has a deep body, especially for a river fish. Its body is about a quarter as deep as it is long. Its head is about one-third of its total length. Younger fish have a steeper forehead than older, more grown-up fish.
Male and female Congo lionhead cichlids look different. This is called being sexually dimorphic. Males grow bigger than females. They also develop a fatty bump on their head, called a nuchal hump. Males have longer fins than females too.
The main color of this fish is a greyish-purple. Its belly turns yellow near its front fins. You can also see yellow around its gill covers and eyes. It has a dark, scale-free spot on its gill cover. Usually, there are five or six dark stripes going down its sides. Each scale on its side has dark edges, which makes a pattern that looks a bit like chain mail.
Small, whitish spots form lines on the fins at its back and bottom. These fins also have slanted black stripes. There are shiny spots on most of the scales on its sides. Males can grow to about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. Females are smaller, reaching about 10 centimeters (4 inches).
Where the Congo Lionhead Cichlid Lives
The Congo lionhead cichlid lives in the Congo River basin. You can find it from Pool Malebo all the way to Monsembe in the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also lives in the lower Kasai River and the upper Sangha River in the Central African Republic.
Habitat and What it Eats
This fish lives near the bottom of the water, especially in areas with fast-moving rapids. The Congo lionhead cichlid seems to eat small creatures without backbones, like insects and spiders. Scientists have found parts of insects and spiders in their stomachs.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Male Congo lionhead cichlids are very protective of their space. A male usually has several females living within the area he guards. The female lays about 80 eggs in a safe, hidden spot, often inside a cave. She lays the eggs on the ceiling of the cave.
The eggs hatch after about 54 hours. The mother fish guards her eggs and the young fish. The baby fish start swimming on their own when they are about eight days old.
Human Use
People catch the Congo lionhead cichlid for food. It is a common fish and is easy to breed in aquariums.
