Above: In this picture a huge 14" long premium quality Buttikoferi Cichlid is swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.
Comments: These are awesome looking fish that get a striking vertically barred pattern.
Origin: The ancestors of the Buttikoferi Cichlids lived in coastal rivers and streams of Liberia in West Africa. But now they live in aquariums all over the world.
Maximum Size: In aquariums, they can grow to be about 16" long, including their tails, which makes them too big for all but the very largest aquariums. Females tend to remain quite a bit smaller.
Behaviors: Buttikoferi Cichlids are usually rather aggressive fish and are very aggressive, when preparing to spawn, spawning, and then protecting their eggs and babies.
Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include, Mbuna Cichlids from Lake Malawi, Synodontis Catfish, also Cichlids from Lake Victoria, but probably not Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika.
Click here for more about Synodontis Catfish.
Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.
Temperature: Buttikoferi Cichlids live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal. Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.
Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food for Cichlids to eat. Feed them small pellets when they're small, then gradually increase the size, as they grow bigger.
In their natural habitat Buttikoferi Cichlids eat small fish but do not require live fish when living in an aquarium.
Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.
Water Conditions: These fish can adapt to most types of water, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or alkalinity.
Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.
Aquarium Size: Buttikoferi Cichlids will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 150-gallons of water, or even better something like 250-gallons of water or maybe even bigger.
Decor: Buttikoferi Cichlids do not really need gravel and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.
Click here for more about aquarium gravel.
Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but this fish will usually rip plants up, so most aquariums with Buttikoferi Cichlids do not have live plants.
Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. Most 80-gallon aquariums have room along the back for two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of the minimum set up for young Buttikoferi Cichlids.
Better is a 150, 250, or 250-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.
Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.
The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.
Life Span: Buttikoferi Cichlids can live for several years. Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they'll most likely breed and produce the next generation of fish for your aquarium.
Gender: It's nearly impossible to tell males from females just by looking at them, when they're young.
But if you raise up a group of them, soon the males will be bigger and have longer more pointed fins than the females.
Breeding: Buttikoferi Cichlids are Substrate Spawners.
Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.
Popularity: The Buttikoferi Cichlids are a popular aquarium fish.
Names: Their scientific name is Heterotilapia buttikoferi.
Variations: There are no variations of this species that are known to us.
Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Buttikoferi Cichlids, including a picture gallery.
We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.
DrTom - 09/03/2015
All of our fish are Premium Quality Fish from the best suppliers in the world. Our fish have better health, more energy and brighter colors, as you can see in our pictures on this website.
We have 380-aquariums with lots-and-lots of popular aquarium fish plus lots-and-lots of rare fish!
We consider ourselves to be the link between the world's best sources of fish and the world's best customers. We love our work, and we are very responsible about caring for our fish and then shipping them carefully.
We also offer lots and lots of information about keeping and caring for pet fish, all from the knowledge of the Bailey Brothers, who have a combined total of 100+ years of experience as breeders, wholesalers, and retailers of pet fish!
Our fish and our customers are treated with the best of care, and we work energetically everyday to make sure every customer enjoys their new fishy friends.
When you purchase pet fish from us, you know you're receiving premium quality fish and premium quality service.
"Received my fish last night and was so pleased! They all arrived alive and appeared to be healthy.
"Once in the tank, they became very active and are now thriving in their new home.
"Beautiful fish, I asked for color and aquariumfish delivered. Processing and shipping was extremely quick."
Nevin and DrTom, the Bailey Brothers
This website is owned and operated by the Bailey Brothers, DrTom and Nevin, who've been together in the fish business for more than 50-years.
The Product Manager has been with the company for more than 35-years.
So we feel very confident that this is the fishiest crew anywhere.