Above: a nice young healthy Danakilia Shukoray Cichlid about 2.25" long in one of our aquarums.

Click here to see a picture of two magnificent mature males quarrelling.

Comments: These are fabulous fish. The mature males are dark with many bright spangles and a big bump on their foreheads.

Origin: The ancestors of this Cichlid lived only in the Shukoray River in Eritrea, which is a country in East Africa. But now this fish lives in a few aquariums scattered all over the world.

Maximum Size: This fish is new to us, and we do not yet know how big it will grow.

Others have told us it will grow to about 6" and is a rather mild tempered Cichlid, but in our aquariums it's been rather aggressive.

Behaviors: These Cichlids are usually rather aggressive but not as aggressive as most Cichlids from East Africa.

Compatibility: at this time this Cichlid is rare and quite expensive and most of them are kept in aquariums without other species.

Temperature: this species is said to be tolerant of a wide range of temperatures, but since it is rare and expensive, most of them live in aquariums at about 78-degrees F.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food for this species to eat.

Feed them small pellets when they're small, then gradually increase the size of the pellets as they grow larger.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: pH about 7.5 to 8+ with high hardness.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Eventually they will need to live in an aquarium with at least 80-gallons of water.

Decor: These Cichlids do not 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.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. Most 80-gallon aquariums have room along the back for at least two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of the minimal set up for this specie.

Better is a 100, 120, 150, or 200-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: we have not had this species long enough to know how long they can live, but it's probably at least several years.

Gender: It's difficult to tell males from females, when they're small, but easy when they're mature, because the males develop a big bump on top of their heads.

Breeding: the female lays eggs, a male fertilizes the eggs, then the female broods the eggs in her mouth.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: this fish is rare and very new to the hobby. So it has not had time to become popular.

Names: Their scientific name is Danakilia sp. Shukoray. This fish's ancestors lived in the Shukoray River in Eritrea in East Africa.

Variations: We do not yet know of any variations.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 09/29/2017