Congochromis sabina

Sabina’s Congochromis, scientific name Congochromis sabinae, belongs to the Cichlidae family. The fish appeared in the aquarium trade in the 1960s, long before it had a scientific description. At the time, it was called the Red Mary fish (an allusion to the color of the cocktail of the same name) and this name is still often used in relation to this type of cichlid.

It is easy to keep and breed if it is in the right conditions. Compatible well with many other species. May be recommended for beginner aquarists.

Habitat

It comes from the equatorial region of Africa from the territory of Gabon, the Congo and the northern territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Inhabits the basin of the Congo River of the same name, one of the largest on the continent. Prefers small streams and rivers flowing under the canopy of moist rainforests. The water in these rivers is colored brown due to the abundance of tannins released as a result of the decomposition of plant organic matter – branches, tree trunks, fallen leaves, fruits, etc.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 50 liters.
• Temperature – 24-27°C
• Value pH — 4.0–6.0
• Water hardness – low (0-3 dGH)
• Substrate type – sandy
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement is weak
• The size of the fish is 4–7 cm.
• Nutrition – plant-based food
• Temperament – peaceful
• Keeping in a pair or in a harem with one male and several females

Description

Males reach 6–7 cm, females are somewhat smaller – 4–5 cm. This is where the visible differences between the sexes end. The coloration of the upper part of the body is gray, the lower part is with pink or red hues. The fins and tail are translucent, the upper lobes have a red-blue edging and a few specks of the same colors. During the spawning period, the color becomes predominantly red.

Food

It feeds near the bottom, so the food should be sinking. The basis of the diet are products based on herbal ingredients, such as spirulina algae. You can diversify the diet with frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, pieces of bloodworms, which are served 2-3 times a week, that is, they serve only as an addition to the main plant food.

Maintenance and care, arrangement of the aquarium

The optimal size of the aquarium for a pair of fish starts from 50 liters. For a group of 3-5 fish and when kept together with other species, a much larger tank will be required (from 200 liters or more). It is desirable that the design resembles a natural habitat. It is necessary to provide places for shelters in the form of small caves or closed shady areas formed by snags and dense thickets of plants. Some aquarists add small ceramic pots tipped on their side, or hollow pieces of pipes, from 4 cm in diameter. These will serve as a potential spawning site. The lighting is subdued, so living plants should be chosen among shade-loving species. Dried leaves of some trees located at the bottom also serve as an inapplicable design attribute. Read more in the article “Which tree leaves can be used in an aquarium.” Leaves are not only part of the interior decoration, but also have a direct impact on the composition of the water. As in natural water bodies, as they decompose, they release tannins that turn the water into a characteristic brown color.

Having equipped the aquarium, in the future it is required to service it. If there is a productive filtration system and if the fish are not overfed, then the care procedures are as follows: weekly replacement of part of the water (15–20% of the volume) with fresh water, regular removal of organic waste by siphon (remains of food, excrement, old leaves, etc. .), preventive maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer’s instructions, control of key water parameters (pH and dGH), as well as concentrations of nitrogen cycle products (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates).

Behavior and Compatibility

Males are territorial and compete with each other for bottom space. In a small aquarium, there should be only one adult male in the company of a female or a group of females. Compatible with other peaceful schooling species from among the characins, cyprinids, as well as with South American cichlids, corydoras catfish and others.

Breeding / breeding

Easy to breed, in favorable conditions, spawning occurs regularly. It is worth noting that although Congochromis Sabina can live with relatively little hardness, the eggs will only develop in very soft acidic water. You may need to use a reverse osmosis filter.

The fish are not demanding on partners, so it is enough to settle one male and a female together to get offspring. Courtship is initiated by the female, after a short “marriage dance” the couple finds a suitable place for themselves – a cave, where spawning takes place. The female remains inside near the masonry, and the male guards the territory around her. The duration of the incubation period depends on the temperature, but usually takes about 3 days. After 8–9 days, the fry that have appeared begin to swim freely. The parent continues to protect their offspring for another two months before leaving the fry to themselves.

Fish diseases

The main cause of diseases lies in the conditions of detention, if they go beyond the permissible range, then immunity suppression inevitably occurs and the fish becomes susceptible to various infections that are inevitably present in the environment. If the first suspicions arise that the fish is sick, the first step is to check the water parameters and the presence of dangerous concentrations of nitrogen cycle products. Restoration of normal/suitable conditions often promotes healing. However, in some cases, medical treatment is indispensable. Read more about symptoms and treatments in the Aquarium Fish Diseases section.