Nanochromis nudiceps

[Simon Morgan]

I saw some lovely Nanochromis nudiceps today, I managed to leave the shop with out buying them.
Please give me some advice before I go back!
They were quite easy to sex so I'm not sure if I should go for a pair or a group, help!

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi Simon,

Well that got my interest!!!!

Where, how many and how much

Question though, are they N. nudiceps or N. parilus (miss ID'd as N. nudiceps??).

Quick way to confirm:

The upper half of the caudal fin in both sexes of N. parilus has an alternating horizontal pattern of black and white to yellow stripes (of varying intensity). No stripes on the caudal fin of N. nudiceps.

Whether it's N. parilus or N. nudiceps, husbandry is the same, similar to the Blockheads you've succesfully bred :biggrin: .

Oh, and based on my own N. parilus and Congochromis exploits, keep them as 'breeding pairs'.

Andrew

 

[westafrica]

Hi sixfoot tank,

Are you sure that they are genuine N. nudiceps? They're very rare in the hobby (at least in France), and usually the fish sold as N. nudiceps are indeed blueish N. parilus. Fortunately, the 2 species are quite easy to ditinguish : If there are some alternate horizontal black and white yellow stripes on the upper part of the caudal fin, then they are N. parilus :

Pic taken here : http://www.thekrib.com/Apisto/N-parilus-pr.jpg

If such stripes are absent, then it is surely N. nudiceps. And if it actually is N. nudiceps that you seen, don't hesitate for a second and go for a group!

Apart from that, I'd advice you to take a group rather than a "pair". Even though most of the time with young individuals, 1 male and one gravid female with balance strenght, taken from a sales tank and put in good conditions will form a pair, what happens when it doesn't work is quite violent, and that justifies to be careful and take at least 2 duos (not optimal), rather 3 if your tank is big enough.

Anyway don't hesitate to put as many hidings as possible, including at the surface : unfortunately I could notice personnally that when there is fights within a Nanochromis group / pair, it can be really fast and result in the death of the dominated individual. Apart from that times, Nanochromis parilus is really

 

[westafrica]

hehe hi Andrew! Once again you were faster . Fun to see how likely our answers are

 

[Simon Morgan]

I'm pretty sure they are nudiceps, I would have to see them again to be 100% sure. No stripes if I remember correctly.
I think I would go for a pair (or two pairs) if I can make room for them, plently of hiding places, low pH and good food should do the trick!