Giraffe perch - Nimbochromis venustus - DNZ 4cm - single specimen

The Golden-fronted Mouthbrooder, Giraffe Perch or Peacock Mouthbrooder, is a popular cichlid that originates from Lake Malawi in East Africa and is also known as Nimochromis venustus. It primarily inhabits the sand littoral and resides in the vallisneria patches. In its homeland it is a frequently encountered representative, which enjoys a high reputation among Malawi fans and represents a great eye-catcher in a Malawi tank. Its rather uncomplicated keeping makes it a popular cichlid that likes to be kept.

You will receive our giraffe perch in pairs in a size of 5 cm.

Nimbochromis venustus has the typical high-backed body with a terminal and wide mouth as well as thick lip bulges. In the basic color the animals are orange-yellow to intensive golden-yellow. The females form black-brown spots on it, which partly show the spot pattern of giraffes, hence their name. In contrast, males form these rather inconspicuous, but have a deep blue head. The dorsal fin is body transparent blue. A golden longitudinal band runs from the forehead to the hem of the fin. Juveniles do not color until they are older and until then resemble their mothers. They grow to about 25 cm in length, making them one of the largest among the Nimbochromis.

The giraffe perch is also, as its name suggests- a mouth brooder, with females incubating the eggs in their mouths. She releases free-swimming fry into the water that can be raised on freshly hatched Artemia nauplii.

Giraffe perch should be kept in a harem with only one male and several females. The males in particular become territorial. Therefore, the aquarium of these handsome perches should be at least 300 liters or more and should be well designed with stone setups on a sandy or fine gravel bottom substrate. These provide territorial markers, as well as privacy screens and retreats. Attention should be paid to a sufficiently large swimming space. In the background and around the edges, plants such as Vallisneria can be used. At a total hardness (GH) of 3-10 °dGH, as well as a pH value between 7.5 and 9.0 and a temperature between 24 and 27 °C, the "giraffes" can be well maintained.

As a carnivore Nimbochromis venustus feeds among other things on small invertebrates, smallest crustaceans and also smaller fish, therefore a socialization with invertebrates is rather not recommended. With larger fish, which can be maintained in the same water parameters, it can be socialized however well.

Giraffe perch are not particularly choosy when it comes to food and can be optimally fed with commercially available  dry food in the form of flake food or granulated food, but also food tablets for carnivorous ornamental fish. About an occasional treat in the form of live food or frozen food such as fish fillet, smelts or Daphnia and Artemia they are very happy.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Cichfeed has a grain size of 1.5 mm and is therefore also suitable for larger fish. The NH Cichfeed is a soft granulate for predominantly carnivorous fish. It has the same consistency as small crustaceans and insect larvae that fish naturally eat, and the soft granules protect the fish mouth from micro-injuries that can result from hard feed granules.

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend when keeping fish the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.