All fish / Cichlidae

Pleurospilus Cichlid

Pseudosimochromis babaulti

Also known as simochromis pleurospilus, pseudosimochromis pleurospilus, pleurospilus, red spotted simochromis

A small algae-grazing cichlid from the rocky shallows of Lake Tanganyika, with a yellowish-green body dotted with red spots in males. It is kept for its lively behaviour and colour in Tanganyikan rock setups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.8 to 9

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, or a large group in a big tank

Diet

Herbivore: algae, spirulina flakes and pellets, blanched vegetables

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania, Zambia, DR Congo)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder; females carry eggs and fry for around three weeks. It breeds readily in hard alkaline water if the female has places to hide.

Good to know

Older literature lists it as Simochromis pleurospilus, now treated within Pseudosimochromis (often as a form of P. babaulti). Prone to bloat if fed protein-rich foods, and males are intolerant of each other.