Giraffe Cichlid (Nimbochromis venustus)
Country of Origin: 🇺🇸USAVenustus Cichlid
General Background
The Venustus Cichlid (Nimbochromis venustus) also known as the Giraffe Cichlid, is a popular freshwater fish endemic to Africa’s Lake Malawi. Other common names include Venustus Hap, Kalinga, Giraffe Cichlid, Giraffe Haplochromis, and Giraffe Hap.
The male Venustus Cichlid will have a blue face with yellow markings across the head and dorsal fin and the female will generally be yellow with a pattern of darker, melanic blotches.
Growing to 9.8 inches (25 cm), a 125-gallon tank is required to provide this fish with ample swimming space. Water temperature should be kept at 22.8°C to 27.8°C.
The ideal aquarium set up for the venustus Cichlid should have plenty of caves, hiding spots, and places to set up territories. Many pieces of stacked rock with a sandy aragonite-based substrate will also be needed to maintain the necessary high pH of 7.7-8.6 and alkalinity.
These Cichlids are sensitive to high levels of nitrates, and the water should therefore be changed regularly for their optimal health. With proper care, this fish has a life span of up to 10 years in an aquarium.
The Venustus Cichlid are semi-aggressive and are not considered to be community fish. If the tank is large enough, they are only moderately aggressive except for when they are spawning.
Feeds
The Venustus Cichlids are generally omnivores but in the wild, they are predatory piscivores - meaning it stalks and eats small fish. In the aquarium, they do best with a high-protein diet as well as live or frozen foods and vegetables.
Some of the Venustus Cichlid favorite foods include;
- Brine shrimp,
- Bloodworms,
- Small fish,
- Quality flakes,
- Pellets foods containing vegetable matter.
Since they are enthusiastic eaters and will feed to the point of their stomachs being distended, they should only be fed food they can consume in a few minutes to avoid overfeeding.
Tankmates
The Venustus Cichlids are not considered community fish and will only do best in the company of other cichlids. They are best kept in groups of one male and several females of the same species. They will shoal together if they are few (6 to 8 adults in a 125 gallons tank). They should however not be kept with peaceful Cichlids.
The most ideal tank mates for the Venustus Cichlid are;
- Synodontis catfish,
- Blue Dolphin ( Moori)
- Plecos
- Red Tail Shark
- Giant Danios
Frequently Asked Questions
How big do Venustus Cichlids get?
The Venustus Cichlid is a large-sized cichlid growing to a length of about 9.8 inches (25 cm) in the wild but could get bigger in a home aquarium.
How do you tell the difference between male and female Venustus Cichlids?
Telling between male and female venustus Cichlids is relatively easy where the males feature more color and the females are less colorful. The males will have a blue face with bright yellow markings across the head and dorsal fin, while the female will be yellow with a pattern of darker, melanic blotches.
DOA Policy
While this is a rare occurrence, it can and will happen from time to time. Fish are live animals and we cannot ensure that every one will arrive alive or remain alive. We do ask that if your fish arrives dead (DOA), submit a picture of the deceased fish that is in the bag within 2 hours of the delivery time of your fish. We will work quickly with you to resolve the problem.
We will offer replacement fish for any losses, but do not offer refunds at this time. We can replace fish but shipping costs is the responsibilityof the buyer. If you put the fish in your tank and it dies or is not acting properly, please contact us, with pictures,within 24 hours. We will again, do everything in our power to resolve the issue and ensure that you have a great experience with these fish.
Shipping Policy
Most Shipments will be UPS Next Day Air unless otherwise noted. Processing fish for your order can take up to 2 business days. This is to ensure your fish and healthy, happy, and ready to be put in your tank when it arrives. We ship fish on Mondays- Wednesday (excluding holidays) to ensure fish arrive before weekends. This allows us to completely prepare the fish for shipping and ensure they are healthy prior to arrive at your door. All fish will be shipped with oxygenated water and specific additives in the water to ensure they maintain their health and stability during shipment. Depending on the species of fish and current weather conditions, the fish may arrive with a heat pack or ice pack to maintain the optimal temperature which further ensures the health and safety of your fish. All costs of shipping (postage, packaging,heat/ice packs, etc.) are included in the Shipping fee. We ship to only the continental United States.
FAQ
"The fish I received do not look like the fish in thepicture. Why is this?"
- We typically take photographs of one or two fish when we initially get them in. Since we have a large quantity of most of the various species of fish, it would be understandably impossible to provide a picture ofevery individual fish with a specific species. For some of our more rare orlarger fish, the picture listed may be the actual fish that you are receiving.If this is the case, it will be designated by ?WYSIWYG?, meaning ?what you see,is what you get?.
"What happens if my fish arrive dead?"
- While this is a rare occurrence, it can and willhappen from time to time. Fish are live animals and we cannot ensure that everyone will arrive alive or remain alive. We do ask that if your fisharrives dead (DOA), submit a picture of the deceased fish that is in the bag.We will work quickly with you to resolve the problem. We will offer replacement fish for any losses, but do not offer refunds at this time. We will reship any replacement fish at the buyer's expense. If you put the fish in your tank and it dies or is not acting properly, please contact us, with pictures, within 24 hours. We will again, do everything in our power to resolvethe issue and ensure that you have a great experience with these fish.
"What if I'm not home when the fish arrive?"
- We will always provide you with a tracking number. While the fish are packaged to survive about 72+ hours within the shipping containers, we do ask that you make arrangements to arrive home to inspect your fish as soon as possible after they are delivered to your home. Itis always suggested to provide an area for the delivery person to place the boxthat is out of direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.
"What do I do with my fish once I've unpacked them?"
- Like you would with any new fish, let the entire bag float in your tank for 15-30 minutes. This allows the temperature withinthe bag to adjust to the same as your tank and will reduce temperature shock onthe fish. After this time, you can add all of the fish and water that is in thebag into your tank. The products used within the water for shipping will notharm any existing fish within your tank and actually makes the transition foryour new fish a bit easier. After this, expect your new fish to take a few daysto become fully adjusted, this includes hiding, floating at the top, sinking tothe bottom, and not eating. After a few days, your new fish should be acting aswimming like they normally would. At this point, enjoy your aquarium!
"I want to return my new fish because x,y,z?"
- Unfortunately, we are unable to accept returns.We do recommend contacting us via email with yourorder number and as much information as possible. We will try to assist you inresolving whatever the issue may be.