CREATURE FEATURE: Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid

The Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis lifalili) is a freshwater fish in the Cichlidae family of cichlids.

The Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid is red-orange to bright red with rows of small blue spots all over its body, head, and fins. It has two dark spots on its sides. In the mating season, its whole body turns red. 

Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid

It can grow to 8-10 centimetres (3-4 inches) in length. 

It is native to the Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It prefers rocky rivers.

It feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects, small fish and aquatic vegetation. 

The female Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid lays about 400 eggs on a stone at the bottom of the river. The eggs hatch after 2 days. 

Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid
Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid
Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid
Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid
Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid
Blood-Red Jewel Cichlid

Location of photographs: Aquarium, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

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