All fish / Cichlidae

Venustus Cichlid

Nimbochromis venustus

Also known as venustus, giraffe cichlid, giraffe hap, venustus hap, haplochromis venustus, giraffe haplochromis, venusta, ヴェヌスタス, 维纳斯, 长颈鹿

A large Lake Malawi predator with a yellowish body covered in brown giraffe-like blotches, while mature males develop a bright blue head and yellow flanks. In the wild it buries itself in sand and plays dead to ambush small fish. Keepers prize it for its striking male colour and bold personality.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

22 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

One male with several females in a large Malawi community

Diet

Carnivore: quality cichlid pellets, krill, prawn, mysis and occasional fish-based foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder; the female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth for around three weeks. Breeding is fairly easy in a spacious tank with one male and several females.

Good to know

Grows large and will eat any fish small enough to swallow, so keep it only with robust Malawi cichlids of similar size. Males can be harsh towards females and rivals, so provide plenty of room and rockwork.