Care and Compatibility of Commando Cichlid - Nimbochromis venustus


Introduction

The Commando Cichlid has an elongated and laterally compressed body, with a large head and prominent mouth. Its coloration is impressive, ranging from light blue to bright yellow. Males are usually larger and more colorful than females.

Behavior

The Commando Cichlid, also known as Nimbochromis venustus, is a species native to Lake Malawi in Africa. It is known for its striking appearance and interesting behavior. They are territorial and aggressive fish, especially during the breeding season. They require a spacious aquarium with hiding places and rocky areas to explore.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Nimbochromis venustus is evident. Males are typically larger and have more vibrant colors, especially during breeding season, while females tend to be smaller and less colorful.

Reproduction

Breeding Commando Cichlids can be challenging. They are maternal mouthbrooders, which means the female will pick up the fertilized eggs in her mouth and protect them until they hatch. After hatching, the fry will stay in the mother's mouth for some time before being released. Providing suitable spawning sites in the aquarium is recommended to facilitate this process.

Aquarium Conditions

Nimbochromis venustus, commonly known as the venustus cichlid, requires a spacious aquarium with rocks to create structures and caves. It prefers alkaline water and a warm temperature. Aquarium décor should include large rocks and sand substrate. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a balanced diet.

Feeding

They are carnivorous fish and primarily feed on small fish and crustaceans in their natural habitat. In the aquarium, they can be fed with commercial foods in the form of pellets or flakes, but it is also important to include live or frozen foods in their diet to maintain their health and vitality.

Complexity

Caring for Nimbochromis venustus can be moderately challenging. They are territorial fish and can be aggressive towards other cichlids. It's recommended to keep them in a larger group or in an African cichlid tank. They are carnivores and accept a variety of foods, but prefer live and frozen foods.


In case you need more help, or if you want to know into any topic related to the Nimbochromis venustus (Commando Cichlid) and even any other species you can use the forums to ask what you need.

To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Nimbochromis venustus (Commando Cichlid) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Commando Cichlid with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 44 species compatible with the Nimbochromis venustus (Commando Cichlid) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (44)

Compatible (11 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Lemon Catfish - Hemiancistrus subviridis

Lemon Catfish

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Similar Sizes (3 Species)

They can coexist if they are the same size or very similar sizes, it does not work in all cases, there may be exceptions.


Pez Loro - Red Parrot

Pez Loro

Red Parrot

Frontosa Cichlid - Cyphotilapia frontosa

Frontosa Cichlid

Cyphotilapia frontosa

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

With Reservation (17 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Labidochromis caeruleus - Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Pearl Cichlid - Altolamprologus Calvus

Pearl Cichlid

Altolamprologus Calvus

Fire Fish Dragon Blood - Aulonocara Firefish

Fire Fish Dragon Blood

Aulonocara Firefish

Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Male siamese fighting fish - betta splendens male

Male siamese fighting fish

betta splendens male

Suckermouth Catfish - Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Suckermouth Catfish

Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Red-tailed Black Shark - Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Red-tailed Black Shark

Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Red Terror Fish - Mesoheros festae

Red Terror Fish

Mesoheros festae

Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Mije Fish - Leporinus fasciatus

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Dragon Violet Goby - Gobioides broussonnetii

Dragon Violet Goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

Sun Catfish - Horabagrus brachysoma

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Gray bichir - Polypterus senegalus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Commando Cichlid - Nimbochromis venustus

Commando Cichlid

Nimbochromis venustus

Tetraodon Nigroviridis - Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Considerable size difference (13 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Nerite Snail - Neritina sp

Nerite Snail

Neritina sp

Endler Guppy Fish - Poecilia Wingei

Endler Guppy Fish

Poecilia Wingei

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Commando Cichlid

Nimbochromis venustus

Commando Cichlid - Nimbochromis venustus
  • Ph: 7.5 - 8.5
  • Temperature (c°): 23 - 28
  • Measures: 20 cm - 25cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    75 Liters - 20 Gallons
  • Behavior: Semi Aggressive
  • Size: Medium
  • Swimming area: Swim in the middle of the aquarium
  • Water Type: Sweet water