COPADICHROMIS  HYBRID?

This fish is relatively aggressive (compared to its size). It needs some swimming space which should be allowed in the tank. Will try to breed with any female that resembles the coloration of its own including members of the Aulonocara genus which are very close in size. Keeps breeding coloration and attitude all the time. When kept with aggressive mbuna (Melanochromis species) it showed no aggression, being very shy and frightened. When given ample space its behavior changed radically becoming aggressive even against fishes double the size of it. Has grown to about 15 cm the female being much smaller.

Minimum tank size : 120 cm / 200 liters. Recommended size : 150 cm / 500 liters. Males will fight with each other no matter the tank size.

If the tank is correctly setup and the necessary provisions have been made then a number of juveniles will always survive serving the task of renewing the stock of the tank. In a non-mbuna tank, full of specialized piscivores this is especially difficult. The juveniles will take advantage of every gap and crevice and use it as its home till they become large enough to escape. They are fed with food remainders which pass in front of their "nests" carried by the water current. The photos show an 8 month old female Copadichromis (left) and a 6 month old male in these nests. The lower photo (Februrary 2001) shows one of these fry which has already become an adult - an exact replica of its father (top photo). The fish behind it is a female Mylochromis sphaerodon. 

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