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Home > Freshwater Fish > African Cichlids > Venustus Cichlid
Venustus Cichlid (Nimbochromis venustus)
Venustus Cichlid
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Venustus Cichlid (Nimbochromis venustus)

Quick Stats

Care Level Easy
Temperament Aggressive
Color Form Blue, White
Diet Omnivore
Water Conditions 76-82° F, KH 10-15, pH 7.8-8.6
Max. Size 10"
Family Cichlidae
Minimum Tank Size 70 gallons
Compatibility View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Care Level Easy
Temperament Aggressive
Color Form Blue, White
Diet Omnivore
Water Conditions 76-82° F, KH 10-15, pH 7.8-8.6
Max. Size 10"
Family Cichlidae
Minimum Tank Size 70 gallons
Compatibility View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information

Overview

The Venustus Cichlid (meaning refined or elegant) is a large cichlid with the male having a blue face with yellow markings across the head and dorsal fin. The female is less colorful with a silver background behind a dark blotched pattern.

The Venustus Cichlid requires a large aquarium with plenty of caves, hiding spots and places to set up territories. The ideal aquarium setup will consist of many pieces of stacked rock with a sandy aragonite based substrate which is needed to maintain the necessary high pH and alkalinity. These cichlids are very sensitive to levels of nitrates and therefore regular water changes will be needed for their optimal health.

The female will spawn on a flat rock, and will take the unfertilized eggs into her mouth and follow closely behind the male until he releases the sperm to fertilize the eggs. The female will then incubate the eggs for approximately three weeks before releasing the fry. The fry can then be fed newly hatched brine shrimp, daphnia, or crushed flake food.

The Venustus Cichlid needs meaty foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, small fish, as well as a quality flake or pellet food containing vegetable matter.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1" to 1-3/4"

Customer Testimonials

Justin W Hico , WV
I have two females and they have been wonderful fish.
Jan K Chicago , IL
We have had a male and female in a 175-gallon tank for over a year. The male is absolutely beautiful and the female is pretty but much more plain in color. Neither fish seems to cause a problem with the other large cichlids in the tank. The male will sit in my hand during feeding. I think they're great!
Jennifer M Ft Walton Beach , FL
I just bought a Venustus Cichlid and I LOVE it. It's still to young to tell the sex, but has a beautiful yellow tone on the underside and fins.
Kristyn T Houston , TX
We bought several different types of cichlids from liveaquaria about a year and a half ago. They have been healthy right from the day we got them! The venustus has grown to be the big boy of the tank and our favorite! He has a pretty good temperament. For his size, we consider him to be the dominant male but he doesn't bully the other fish or push his size around. The fish all came around 1-1 1/2" and now they are anywhere from 3-5". The venustus is a little over 5" so far.
1-4 of 4 testimonials

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