Pelviachromis humilis from Guinae and Sierra Leone

[tjudy]

Here is a male Pelvicachromis

humilis fron Guinae. It is listed as 'boffa', but I have not been able to find any

reference to a river, stream or village of that name. This fish looks very similar to a type that

Anton Lamboj calls 'dinkaya' also from Guinae.

<img

src="http://home.centurytel.net/TedDebJudy/web%20fish%20image%20file/male%20boffa%20aug%

202004B.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Here is a picture of the female..

<img src="http://home.centurytel.net/TedDebJudy/web%20fish%20image%20file/fem%20boffa%

20aug%202004.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

I have another fish that was

imported from Sierra Leone... P. humilis 'kasewe'. This fish a a bit stressed in this

picture(compared to the boffa/dinkaya), but when he looks better I have a hard time finding

significant differences between him and the boffa/dinkaya male. The female kasewe (no pic yet) is

very different from the boffa/dinkaya female. The kasewe female has much more distinct bands.

<img src="http://home.centurytel.net/TedDebJudy/web%20fish%20image%20file/male%20kasewe%

20aug%202004.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Anybody else have these humilis

types and see some more obvious differences? Anybody know more about the locations associated with

the names 'boffa' or 'dinkaya'?

[MoJo]

Excellent photos, Ted. I'm

going to look into some of the dwarf cichlids. With the tank sizes I have on hand, I should be

able to get a nice collection. Are they aggressive (as a species) toward conspecifics?

[fishfarm]

Hey Ted, I want fry when you

get some. Ken

[tjudy]

Some of these larger

Pelvicachromis can be pretty dang nasty... I have found that large groups of humilis do well until

a pair decide that it is time to lay eggs. P. humilis males get up to the 12 - 15 cm range.. so

there is debate about calling them 'dwarf cichlids'. I will house a breeding pair in a 33

long and 40 breeder. 20's are just not large enough to allow the female to escape the

male's aggression.

Fry... no problem... assuming they spawn and rear the fry. These

fish exhibit a lot of foreplay, but do not produce often for me.

[Claudia]

Well-planted 20 Longs will do

for some of the smaller, less aggressive species, but a 40 breeder will allow your

Pelvicachromis the best 'footprint,' bringing out their natural predilections. As

in most species, you will witness a much different scenario in the larger tank, with a minimum of

an 18" width front to back. Plenty of wood, plants and leaf litter will be a most welcome

addition and make them most comfortable, resulting in the increased likelihood of spawning and

natural brood care.

Claudia

[JustRon]

I also have the fish called

"kasewe". The ones I have turned out to be signatus instead. I cannot say what yours

are for sure, but it would seem logical, you may wish to compare what you have with signatus to see

if it is a match.

[tjudy]

Here is a signatus...
http://home.centurytel.net/TedDebJudy/web%20fish%20image%20file/male%20signatus%20B.jpg

I use a lot of driftwood for hiding palces and to

allow some detritus to build up (from the chewing of the ancistrus). The humilis types are almost

eartheater like in their foraging habits and constantly rifle through the substrate... especially

the corners where the wood detritus is allowed to remain. Interstingly, we have been keeping

westies in heavily planted tanks for years, but it turns out that their natural habitat is almost

devoid of submerged higher plants. I still use some anubias on the wood, but I have totally gotten

away from heavily planted tanks in thick substrates.

[JHG]

Nice looking fish.