Scientific name: Chalinochromis brichardi
Common name: Brichard’s chalinochromis
Family: Cichlidae
Usual size in fish tanks: 10 - 12 cm (3.94 - 4.72 inch)
Recommended pH range for the species: 8 - 8.9
Recommended temperature: 24 - 27 °C (75.2 - 80.6°F)
The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning
Where the species comes from: Africa
Temperament to its own species: peaceful
Temperament toward other fish species: aggressive/territorial
Usual place in the tank: Middle levels
Brichard’s chalinochromis are quite a rare addition to the aquarium hobby and should only be cared for by keepers with some experience of keeping aggressive cichlids. Another unusual trat with these fish is the dramatic change of colouration when they mature from juveniles to adult fish. As juveniles they display barring all along their body but this disappears as they mature only leaving the black barring around the head hence their common name of the masked brichardi. Adult specimens average a length of round 3.5 inches but there are cases where they have grown slightly larger.