Pelvicachromis

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Ovalentaria
Superordo: Cichlomorphae
Ordo: Cichliformes

Familia: Cichlidae
Subfamilia: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribus: Chromidotilapiini
Genus: Pelvicachromis
Species: P. humilis – P. pulcher – P. roloffi – P. rubrolabiatus – P. sacrimontis – P. signatus – P. silviae – P. subocellatus – P. taeniatus
Name

Pelvicachromis Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968:379

Type species: Pelmatochromis pulcher Boulenger, 1901. Type by original designation.
References
Thys van den Audenaerde, D.F.E. 1968: A preliminary contribution to a systematic revision of the genus Pelmatochromis Hubrecht sensu lato (Pisces, Cichlidae). Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines, 77 (3-4): 349–391.
Poll, M. & J.P. Gosse 1995: Genera des poissons d'eau douce de l'Afrique. Mémoire de la Classe des Sciences. Académie royale de Belgique. 9: 1–324

Pelvicachromis is a genus of small (5.5–12.5 cm or 2.2–4.9 in), brightly coloured cichlids from tropical West Africa and Central Africa. They typically inhabit soft, acidic water (pH 5.6 – 6.9).

All species form monogamous pairs and use caves as spawning sites. Most are easily spawned in captivity with adequate water quality.
Species

There are currently 11 recognized species in this genus:[1]

Pelvicachromis drachenfelsi Lamboj, Bartel & dell’Ampio, 2014 [1]
Pelvicachromis humilis Boulenger, 1916
Pelvicachromis kribensis Boulenger, 1911 [1]
Pelvicachromis pulcher Boulenger, 1901 (Rainbow Kribensis)
Pelvicachromis roloffi Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968
Pelvicachromis rubrolabiatus Lamboj, 2004
Pelvicachromis sacrimontis Paulo, 1977 (Often mislabelled as P. pulcher)
Pelvicachromis signatus Lamboj, 2004
Pelvicachromis silviae Lamboj, 2013 [2]
Pelvicachromis subocellatus Günther, 1872
Pelvicachromis taeniatus Boulenger, 1901

Natural Environment

Pelvicachromis species inhabit both slow and fast-moving waters in the wild but are only found present in these Central & West African watercourses near to dense underwater vegetation. The water in Pelvicachromis natural environment usually stays around 75° to 79 °F (24° to 26 °C). All described species in the genus have evolved with adaptability at the fore; water quality parameters can vary drastically within this dwarf-cichlids natural range. A species inhabiting different environments and arbitrary alterations must be able to cope with diverse habitats.
In the aquarium

Pelvicachromis comprise part of the arbitrary group aquarists refer to as "dwarf cichlids". They are relatively peaceful cichlids which can be housed with other species in planted, heated tanks.
Female Pelvicachromis taeniatus "Nigerian Red". Photo by Gerard Delany

Pelvicachromis are cave-spawners and will lay their eggs in any cave-like structure such as a clay pot, PVC pipe, coconut shell, etc. The female will initiate the spawning, often displaying or vibrating in front of the male. The female will deposit 50–300 eggs in the cave and the pair will guard the eggs. The eggs hatch in 3–8 days and become free swimming in 5–10 days.

There are yellow, blue, red morphological variations found in the tropical fish hobby; these morphs are a product of natural local population variation.
References

Lamboj, A.; Bartel, D. & dell’Ampio, E. (2014). "Revision of the Pelvicachromis taeniatus-group (Perciformes), with revalidation of the taxon Pelvicachromis kribensis (Boulenger, 1911) and description of a new species". Cybium. 38 (3): 205–222. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
Lamboj, A. (2013). "A new dwarf cichlid (Perciformes) from Nigeria" (PDF). Cybium. 37 (3): 149–157. Retrieved 2018-03-18.