Species profile
African Butterfly Cichlid
Anomalochromis sp. hybrid
Semi aggressive
Moderate care
80 L minimum aquarium
6–8 cm adult size
Mid bottom
Can be kept singly
About this species
General notes for hobby use.
Provisional Anomalochromis-thomasi-scale husbandry only; this row's hybrid identity is unresolved.
Water parameters
Suggested general range for long-term care.
Temperature
24–27 °C
pH
6–7.5
GH
3–12 dGH
KH
Not yet documented
Flow preference
Low
Data confidence
Verified
Behaviour
General behaviour traits used by TanksConnected compatibility checks.
Minimum group size
Can be kept singly
Tank zone
Mid bottom
Territory level
Moderate
Predation risk
Tiny fry
Bioload factor
1.4
Use as a conservative dwarf-cichlid husbandry envelope only. Territoriality usually rises sharply around spawning, but an unknown hybrid may differ from A. thomasi.
Compatibility flags
Quick cautions for common tank-planning issues.
Fin nipper
No
Plant safe
Yes
Shrimp safe
No / caution
Snail safe
Yes
Cave breeder
No
Digs substrate
Yes
Jump risk
Low
Natural history & care
Research-backed context for long-term aquarium care.
Lifespan
Not yet documented
Diet type
Omnivore
Minimum aquarium volume
80 L
Minimum footprint
80 × 35 cm
Alternative names
African Butterfly Cichlid, Anomalochromis sp. hybrid, Anomalochromis thomasi (benchmark species only)
Native range
Captive hybrid/unknown Anomalochromis-type stock; no defensible wild native range can be assigned.
Natural habitat
Benchmark only: shaded West African dwarf-cichlid style setup with fine substrate, plants/wood, sight breaks and gentle filtration.
Diet & feeding
Feed a varied small-cichlid diet of quality prepared food plus frozen/live invertebrates; exact wild feeding ecology cannot be assigned to an unknown hybrid.
Breeding & sexing
Research-backed guidance for identifying sexes and reproductive behaviour.
Sexing
Unknown hybrid parentage makes visual sexing unreliable; breeding tubes and observed spawning behaviour are safer indicators.
Breeding
If fertile, an Anomalochromis-type biparental open-substrate spawning pattern is plausible, but should not be stated as a parent-species fact.