Venustus Cichlid

fish description – Venustus Cichlid Care Guide ($Nimbochromis\ venustus$)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Nimbochromis\ venustus$
Common Name	Venustus Cichlid, Giraffe Cichlid, Venustus Hap
Origin	Lake Malawi and Lake Malombe (Africa)
Adult Size	8–10 inches (20–25 cm)
Temperament	Semi-aggressive, territorial, intelligent ambush predator
Lifespan	10–15 years
Care Level	Intermediate to Advanced (due to size, aggression, and specific water needs)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A large, elongated cichlid with a slightly sloped head. Its body has a beautiful mottled yellow/gold base overlaid with an irregular pattern of dark, black blotches, giving it a giraffe-like appearance.
• Coloration: Mottled yellow/gold and black. Males are more vividly colored, especially in breeding condition (often displaying bright blue on the face/head) and grow larger, sometimes developing a slight nuchal hump. Females retain a duller yellow base and black patterning.
• Fins: Proportional fins.
• Behavior: A slow-moving ambush predator that often lies motionless on the sand, sometimes partially buried, waiting to strike smaller fish. They are active diggers and territorial, requiring rock structures and open sand areas.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons (475 liters) is the minimum for a single adult. 150 gallons or larger is necessary for housing multiple specimens or a proper community of African cichlids.
• Schooling: Can be kept singly or in a group of several individuals (males with a harem of 3–4 females is ideal to manage male aggression).
• Temperature: Tropical range: $73^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}\ (23^\circ$–$28^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (stability is crucial).
• pH Level: Hard, alkaline water is essential: 7.5 to 8.6. They require high $\text{KH}$ for $\text{pH}$ stability and powerful filtration with regular weekly water changes (25–30%) to maintain low nitrates.
• Aquascape: Requires a soft sand or fine gravel substrate (sand preferred for their digging/ambush behavior). Decorate with ample rock structures, caves, and driftwood to create territories and break lines of sight. Leave large open sand areas at the bottom. Avoid live plants as they may be dug up or eaten.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Venustus Cichlid is a carnivore/piscivore and opportunistic predator.

• Staple Diet: Should be fed a high-protein diet. Use high-quality sinking cichlid pellets or granules as the staple.
• Supplementation: Offer live or frozen meaty foods regularly: Brine Shrimp, Mysis Shrimp, Krill, and White Fish Fillets. Some vegetable matter (spirulina, blanched peas) is beneficial but should not be the main component of the diet. Avoid fatty mammalian meats (beef heart) to prevent Malawi Bloat.
• Schedule: Feed 1–2 times daily. They are opportunistic and voracious eaters.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth (under 3 inches). Highly territorial and aggressive toward smaller or weaker tank mates. Avoid aggressive Mbuna cichlids that may harass the slower Venustus.
• Good Tank Mates: Other large, robust, and moderately aggressive African cichlids that thrive in the same hard, alkaline water. Examples include Malawi Haps (Aulonocara, Copadichromis), Peacock Cichlids, and large, durable bottom-dwellers like Synodontis Catfish and large Plecos.