Description
Nichols’ Mouthbrooder is known from quiet, heavily vegetated creeks, drains, lakes, and ponds in the upper and middle Congo River basin. The aquarium should be spacious and with a soft sand or fine gravel substrate. Provide shelter with caves, driftwood, flowerpots on their side, and areas of dense planting. Filtration should be efficient but water movement fairly gentle. Nichols’ Mouthbrooder cichlids are best maintained as a single male with a harem of several females. They can be somewhat territorial towards other bottom dwellers (catfish, loaches, other dwarf cichlids etc), so these are best avoided. Ideal tankmates would be fast-moving, medium sized fish that occupy the mid to upper levels, such as hatchetfish, rainbowfish, or deep-bodied tetras – but do observe carefully.
