lionhead

A medium-sized, stream dwelling cichlid originating in the Congo River basin in Central Africa, the Slender or Blue Buffalo Head Cichlid is much less well known than its more common relative and remains an infrequent import in the trade. Mature fish, especially males, tend to show a vivid blueish coloration and as their name suggests, they are more elongated in shape than Steatocranus cassuarius. In the wild, these fish are adapted for life in fast-flowing waters, and are powerful swimmers with reduced swim bladders which spend most of their time on the bottom of the aquarium. An active and interesting aquarium resident, they prefer fine substrate and plenty of structure in the form of rocks or driftwood. Males will pick out and actively defend a territory from rivals but are generally peaceful towards other tankmates. Although hardy and adaptable, they will do best in conditions similar to their wild habitat, especially well-oxygenated water with moderate to strong current.