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This time we will introduce Pervicachromis pulcale (hereinafter referred to as pulcale). It is a representative species of the so-called dwarf cichlid, a small cichlid that lives in the rivers of West Africa. Their appeal is that they are easy to obtain and if you can raise them well, you can even enjoy breeding them. It is also a recommended fish that can be kept in a mixed aquarium due to its gentle nature and good cooperation with other fish.

What is Pervicachromis?

First, let's briefly talk about the cichlid Pervicachromis (hereinafter referred to as Pervica). The genus Pervicachromis (known by the abbreviation Pervica to aquarists)Pelvicachromis) is a small species with a total length of at most 10 cm, and as shown in the table, there are currently about 8 known species, including Pulkere. It is widely distributed throughout West Africa, including Guinea, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon, as well as the lower reaches of the Congo River. It is also called the African river cichlid because it mainly lives in rivers, but I understand that this is a classification to distinguish it from the lake cichlid that inhabits lakes such as Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria in eastern Africa. It would be a good idea to do so.

Members of the Pervica family are similar in appearance, and although they were once the same species, recent reclassification has led to them becoming separate species. For example, there was a known fish called aff. pulquere (a similar species to pulquere), but it is now an independent species called Sacrimontis. This Sacrimontis looks exactly like a pulchere, but can be distinguished by its reddish abdomen from the bottom of its face, and its overall blackish color when excited. It's a shame that imports have stopped and we don't see them anymore these days.

When Pervica members form a pair, they get along well and behave together. In nature, they may form polygamous harems, but in aquariums where space is limited, monogamous pairs are often seen breeding. Although there are differences in temperament and behavior depending on the species, it can be said that they are gentle and easy to care for compared to the closely related fish of the genus Nanochromis. Among them, Pulcale is especially recommended as it is easy to keep.

By the way, pulquere used to have the old scientific namePelmatochromis pulcher(Permatochromis pulquere), and even today it is often sold under the name Permato. If you don't know it, you'll get confused, so it's a good idea to remember that Permato = Pervica.

Introductory species of African river cichlids

Now, Pulcale has a total length of about 10 cm (12 cm in the wild) when fully grown, so even though it is a small species, it has quite a presence. It inhabits rivers in eastern Benin, southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon in Africa, and although locally collected so-called wild specimens were once distributed, they are rarely seen today. However, it has been bred in large numbers in Southeast Asia and other areas, and has established itself as an introductory species of easily available African river cichlids.

Breed individuals are not picky about water quality."Easy to adapt to the environment in the aquarium", and because it is gentle"Easy to pair male and female"“Easy to mix with other fish.”There is an advantage. From an enthusiast's point of view, the color, body shape, and roughness of a wild specimen may be unsatisfactory, but I think the beauty of a mature pair, even a breed, is quite satisfying. Their big advantage is that they are easy to care for.

The color of the female is amazing!

Not only Pulcale, but also other members of the Pervica family, the females have amazing colors. In general, there are many species of fish where the males are more colorful than the females, but the females of Pervica are just as beautiful as the males. Especially when breeding, the color of the abdomen becomes even darker and the fins and face become more shiny, making them even more beautiful than the males. If you have bred a pulcale, please take a look at the colors of the mature female. I think the reason why females are so showy is because they take the initiative during breeding. What's more, when a female is ready to lay eggs and is in heat, the passionate swimming she does when she appeals to the male is irresistible. They swim to show off their large, red bellies to the males, but the key is to spread their pelvic fins so that they are in close contact with their bellies. It may be that they are trying to show the male that they can lay eggs by making their bellies look bigger. In any case, the appeal of the female before spawning is interesting, and this can be said to be the real pleasure of breeding Pervica. Many people may have fallen in love with the beauty, loveliness, and interesting behavior of females over males. Actually, I am one of them...

Interesting breeding behavior with deep pair bonds

One of the characteristics of Pervica"The bond between the pair is deep."This point can be raised. In general, cichlids form a strong pair bond when breeding, and after spawning, you can see them working hard to protect their eggs and fry. This parenting behavior is a major characteristic of cichlids, and has been the subject of various studies. Compared to species that constantly lay eggs, cichlids are said to be more evolved fish. This parenting behavior varies by species. In some species, the females go in pairs, with the female primarily taking on this role, and in some species, the first-born child joins in to raise the children as a family. Aquariums are such an amazing hobby to be able to see such breeding behavior in an aquarium.

The pulkeir is famous for its very strong pair bond. In particular, many breeders have a gentle nature, and once they are paired, the male and female can be seen working together happily even when not breeding. Occasionally, quarrels may occur, but the breeders find it strangely comforting to see how quickly they get along and eat together. Well, some pairs have compatibility and some tend to fight...

As you will notice when breeding them, the body color of both males and females often changes. This is especially noticeable during breeding, when it is thought that they send signals to their mates by changing their body color. In other words, they are probably communicating through changes in color. Another sign may be the opening or closing of the dorsal fin. You can see this kind of behavior in other fish as well, but you can clearly see the pulquere as well, so be sure to check it out. When they are watching over young fish, they send out warning and gathering signals by changing their body color and shaking their bodies. If you observe these kinds of signs over and over again, breeders will be able to understand them, which will make breeding even more interesting.

variety of pulquere

Pulquere comes in a variety of colors. Several color variations can be seen among breed individuals, such as those with yellow anal fins and those with bluish-purple fins, but recently yellow individuals seem to be the mainstream.

Like the wild specimens, we rarely see them these days, but there are also individuals known to have a bright red face and abdomen, just like Sacrimontis. In the past, individuals like this were also seen in breed individuals. If you find it, please get it. Because it's so beautiful.

Albino individuals are also a famous color variety. The eyes are red and there is no black pigment, so the body is clear white and truly beautiful. Albino individuals often have extremely poor eyesight or faded pigments, but albino Pulqueres have slight yellow or blue coloring, and although they have poor eyesight, they are able to recognize other individuals and are good at it. You can also feed them. I think they were intentionally bred as imperfect albino individuals for ornamental reasons or to make them easier to raise. This can be seen from the fact that when albino individuals breed with each other, individuals with normal body color appear. In fact, the individual introduced this time is a normal-colored individual obtained by breeding a pair of albino individuals. By the way, I would like to note that the person who bred this individual was Mr. W, the editor in charge of this section, who is known as one of Suisaku's biggest enthusiasts.

Distribution and acquisition

As I wrote earlier, wild specimens are rarely seen these days, and most of the ones that are in circulation are breed specimens and are distributed in large numbers, so it is not difficult to obtain them. In the past, it was common to see adult fish with a total length of about 7 cm, but recently it seems that there are many juvenile fish with a total length of 3 to 4 cm. If it is an adult size fish, you can select a male or a female and purchase them, but with young fish of about 3 cm, the sex difference is not clear yet, so if you want to get a pair, buy about 5 fish at once and raise them carefully. It would be nice to pair them naturally. Pairs raised from young fish tend to have deeper bonds than individuals forced into pairs, and I think they are better suited for breeding. What's more, by raising them from young, the caretaker's love for them deepens.

Albino individuals are sometimes sold under the name white permato. It seems that the distribution volume has been small recently, and it is somewhat difficult to obtain compared to the normal body color, but I think you can still find it if you go to a few shops. They also become very beautiful as they grow and become darker in color, so I highly recommend you try raising them at least once.

Key points of breeding

Actual breeding is not difficult if you keep the key points in mind. Here, we will mainly explain breeding individuals in pairs, and also touch on multiple breeding at important points.

◆Example of breeding pulcale

With breeding in mind, I created a layout for a pair of pulcales. As the aquatic plants are Anubias grown on driftwood, the substrate is not thick and a thin layer of soil-based substrate is used. I tried to add variety to the aquascape by arranging driftwood while imagining an underwater stream in Africa. An accessory is placed in the center of the aquarium to serve as a hideout. Water quality is maintained at pH 6.0 to 6.5. In addition, since it is lonely to have only pulquere, I have about 20 young African lampeyes living with me.

■Breeding DATA■
Aquarium: width 450 x depth 220 x height 330mm/approx. 27.8L
filter:Suisaku Space Power Fit Plus M White,Suisaku panel filter W
Filter material:Suisaku Space Power Fit Plus Replacement Filter Media
Substrate: Soil type
illumination:light up 400 white(Lights on for about 1 hours a day using a timer)
timer:LED smart timer
Water temperature: 26℃ (water temperature gauge isPaste balance Muse)
Feed: Flake or granule type food once or twice a day, sometimes frozen brine shrimp
Breeding organisms: Pervicachromis pulcales (1 male, 1 female), African lampeye (about 20), Otocinculus (1)
Aquatic plants: Anubias nana, Anubias nana “Petit”

*Aquarium setRiva 450N 6 piece set(Aquarium / Lid / Protective mat / Filter / LED light / Descaling)

●Aquarium
Even though they are called dwarf cichlids, pulqueres are large individuals that grow to a total length of about 10 cm, so when breeding them in pairs,We recommend an aquarium with a width of 45 cm or more.is. In this breeding example, a 45cm wide aquarium is used, and a pair of pulkere (male approximately 6cm, female approximately 4.5cm) and about 20 young African lampeyes are kept together. If you plan to add other fish, you may want to use a larger tank.

Also, if you want to keep about 3 young fish with a total length of 4 to 5 cm, an aquarium with a width of about 40 cm will be fine. However, as they grow older, stronger individuals emerge or form pairs, and you will begin to see them driving away other individuals. In this case, increase the size of the aquarium or place more aquatic plants and driftwood to create more hiding places. Also, if a mature pair begins to aggressively exclude other individuals in order to spawn, keep them isolated.

●Water quality
Maintains soft water that is slightly acidic to neutralNo problem if you can. The pH value is around 5.5 to around 7.5, but there is no need to be nervous unless it is extremely acidic or alkaline. Breeding individuals can be kept in a wide range of water conditions, so if the water is clean, they can be kept in good condition.

●Filter (filtration)
Various types of filters can be used, so there is no problem as long as you select the one that suits your water volume. howeverDoes not like strong water currentsIt is a good idea to weaken the water flow by placing plenty of aquatic plants or directing the water from the filter onto driftwood. In this breeding example, the mainSuisaku Space Power Fit Plus M White” is used, but the water outlet is facing the water surface. In addition, in order to prevent biofilm that tends to occur on the water surface, instead of aeration,Suishin series`` which is operated by an air pump such as ``Suisaku panel filter W" was set on the wall of the aquarium as a sub-filter. When the filter material of any filter becomes noticeably dirty, I change the water and clean it as well.

●Filter material
Any filter media can be used as long as it does not make the water alkaline. You should use the one that matches your filter.

●Bottom sand
Various types of bottom sand can be used, including soil-based sand that softens water quality and gravel-based sand that does not affect water quality. If you use fine-grained bottom sand, you can watch them put the sand in their mouths and look for food. In addition, pulcale usually lives near the substrate, and if the substrate is dirty, it may cause disease. Carefully observe the condition of the substrate on a daily basis and check for dirt before it becomes noticeable.pro horse extra"Or"professional cleanerIt would be a good idea to clean the bottom floor with something like this.

●Water temperature
For pulquere25 ~ 26is the appropriate temperature. In the winter, it is easy to control the water temperature by using a thermal device, but in the summer, when it gets hot, you need to find ways to lower the temperature. You can control the temperature of each room with an air conditioner, or put aMini cool fan USBstyleTry to lower the temperature by installing a cooling fan such as ``.

●Lighting
It is essential for making pulquere look beautiful and for growing plants.Lights up approximately 1 to 6 hours a day.It would be nice to do that. In this breeding example,LED smart timer'' for 7 hours, and I use the sunrise/sunset mode to gradually brighten the light when it's on and gradually dim it when it's off. It seems to have the advantage of creating a natural atmosphere and being less stressful because fish are less likely to be surprised when the lights are turned on or off.

●Bait
Many of them eat artificial feed from the beginning of breeding, so you won't have much trouble finding food. Try giving cichlid feed, flake type, granule type, etc. once or twice a day. If you look closely at the Pulkere, you'll see that it has a slightly horse-like face with its mouth pointing downwards. Judging from the way they feed, they are originally good at eating food near the substrate. In captivity, they will eat floating food without any problem once they get used to it, so you can choose the food without being too nervous. They also often eat frozen feed such as brine shrimp and red beetles. If you give this as a snack, it will be a rich variety of meals. By the way, there are reports that their food in nature is mainly plant matter such as algae. Therefore, it may be a good idea to feed your pet a plant-rich food such as pleco food in addition to their usual food.

●Layout inside the aquarium
Once they get used to the breeder, they will come out to ask for food, but during maintenance, they will get surprised and hide.The key is to create a place where you can hide by placing plenty of aquatic plants and driftwood.is. If you are unsure about which aquatic plants to choose, we recommend Anubias, which is a member of the African species similar to Pulkeir. Among them, Anubias nana is a popular choice as it is hardy and easy to grow. Recently, many improved varieties of Nana have been released, so I think you can create a unique layout just by combining varieties with different leaf shapes and colors.

●Accessories
Pulcales seem to calm down when they have a place to hide.It is also recommended to provide an artificial shelter.is. In this layout example, we are using a ceramic one that does not affect water quality. I was hoping that this might be a place for them to spawn, but pulcales often spawn in smaller spaces, and as expected, the female digs a hole behind the shelter where she can't see it from here. I made. If you want to lay eggs in a shelter, it may be a good idea to lay half of the shelter on the bottom. However, it is up to the female to choose where to lay her eggs, so it is best to let them do what they like.

- Mixed swimming with other fish
It can be said that the breed of Pulkere is gentle and cooperates well with other fish. This time I am letting them swim with the African lampeye, which is a member of the medaka family, but they don't seem to mind and don't chase them. Seeds that are too small may be eaten, soSmall, gentle species that cannot be used as food or species that do not fight with pulquere are suitable as swimming partners.It can be said.

Below is a list of fish that are suitable for mixed swimming and those that are not. If you see any fish attacking or appearing to be attacked, immediately isolate them. Also, during breeding, the pair becomes nervous and violently chases away the fish that live with them to protect their eggs and fry. If the fish are likely to spawn in a mixed tank, move the fish to another tank as soon as possible.

Fish suitable for mixed swimming
·Medaka friends: Medaka family such as lampeye
·Small characin: Small species such as cardinal tetra and black neon
·Small carp: Small species such as Heteromorpha and Blue Eyes Bora
·Gentle catfish: Otocinculus and small plecos, etc.
·Loach: Gentle species such as coolie roach

Fish that are not suitable for mixing
·Medium to large fish: NG as it will attack or eat Pulkere.
·Cichlid:Cichlids like Pulcaire will fight, so you should avoid them.
·Anabantid: Look at the situation. If you have a large aquarium, you may be able to swim together, but if you have a small aquarium, be careful.
·Fish that prefer alkaline or brackish water：NG because the water quality is not suitable
·Small crustaceans such as shrimp: Not allowed because Pulkeil will eat it or chase it around.

●Daily management
To maintain the environment inside the aquarium, perform water changes, clean the filter media, and clean the substrate. In this breeding example, approximately 2/1 of the total water is replaced once every 1 weeks to 4 month, but there are also times when removing moss from the glass surface, cleaning the filter media, and cleaning the substrate. I am also doing a water change at the same time. The level of dirt in the aquarium will vary depending on the amount of food and frequency of feeding, so it is important to understand the cleaning and water change rate that is appropriate for each aquarium.

●Aiming for breeding
If you keep them well, they will eventually mature and form pairs. The female, whose belly has grown, creates a burrow to lay eggs and starts appealing to the male. The female takes the lead in breeding, but after spawning, the male also takes part in protecting the eggs and raising the young. All of Pervica's friends, such as Pulkere, are quite handsome. Please try to raise a good pair with the aim of breeding. I would like to explain the key points of breeding on another occasion.

in conclusion

The third article in the series featured Pervicachromis pulquere, a representative species of African river cichlid. Once you raise them, you'll understand why they are loved all over the world. Once you get the hang of raising pulcales, it might be a good idea to step up and try other pervica species such as Taeniatus, or even more unusual fish such as the Nanochromis genus. I would like to take a look at these unique species when the opportunity arises. Please take advantage of Pulkere and enjoy breeding African river cichlids. see you!