(Please note that the fish shown in the photo is only a representative of what an adult specimen would look like. The color may vary based on the age and sex of the fish you receive.)
Scientific Name: Hemichromis Exsul
Common Name: Turkana Jewel Cichlid
Adult Size: 4 inches
Life Expectancy: 5 years
Habitat: Lake Turkana in Kenya and Ethiopia
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F
- pH Range: 5.0 - 7.0
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Water Hardness: 5 - 18
Temperament: They are less aggressive than many other jewel cichlids, but can still be territorial, especially when breeding.
Diet & Nutrition: As omnivores, they will eat a variety of foods, including flakes, pellets, and meaty frozen foods.
Breeding & Spawning: If you want to raise fry, it is best to separate them from the parents once they become free-swimming, as parents may end up eating their young.They are substrate spawners, meaning they lay eggs on a flat surface. Both parents will guard the eggs and fry.
Gender: Males are typically larger, more pointed fins, and have more prominent blue spangling on their bodies and fins, while females are smaller, rounder, and have more intense red coloration on their bodies. During breeding, the female will also have a noticeably plumper body with eggs.
