Nyererei Cichlid

Social behaviour

Nyererei cichlid is an intelligent fish exhibiting a social behaviour. It is a very popular aquarium fish. It lives in shallow water, rarely deeper than 5 metres, and prefers to be in close vicinity of rocks. The sexually mature males are significantly more colourful than females and young fish. The males are territorial and can become aggressive. In the wild, the species is endemic to Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest lake.

Mouthbrooder

Nyererei cichlid is a mouthbrooding species. That means the fish carries the eggs in its mouth for a period of time after spawning, and in many cases also the newly hatched fry. Mouthbrooding is a great way to protect the eggs from predators, and it increases the frys’ chances of survival. It also provides better oxygenation of the eggs, since oxygenated water passes through the gills of the fish and into the mouth. Mouthbrooding species lay fewer eggs than other fish, but they invest a lot of work taking care of the eggs. The mouthbrooding parent eats nothing, or close to nothing, during the brooding. 

Many threats

Lake Victoria, which this species is endemic to, is a rather shallow lake that is sensitive to climate change. This affects all species living there. Like many other species endemic to Lake Victoria, Nyererei cichlid are becoming rarer. One important reason is that they are being eaten by the Nile perch, a large predator that was introduced to Lake Victoria in the 1950s.