African Butterfly Cichlid (Anomalochromis thomasi) – Tank Bred

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The African Butterfly Cichlid is one of the most peaceful, elegant, and underrated cichlids in the aquarium hobby. Native to West Africa, this species brings subtle color, graceful movement, and calm personality to planted and community aquariums. Unlike most cichlids, Anomalochromis thomasi is gentle, socially balanced, and well-suited for aquascaped environments.

Our specimens are tank bred, making them more adaptable, stable in captivity, and well-suited for home aquariums compared to wild-caught imports. Their soft iridescent blues, reds, and yellows shimmer under aquarium lighting, creating a living “butterfly” effect as they move through the tank.

What We Love About This Fish:

• Peaceful Cichlid Personality: Exceptionally calm for a cichlid species — perfect for community tanks.
• Subtle Iridescent Coloration: Natural blues, reds, and gold tones that glow without being overpowering.
• Graceful Movement: Slow, flowing swimming style that adds calm visual rhythm to the aquarium.
• Tank-Bred Stability: Adaptable, hardy, and easier to acclimate than wild-caught specimens.

Natural Habitat:

Anomalochromis thomasi is native to slow-moving forest streams and rivers of Sierra Leone and Liberia, where the water is soft, slightly acidic, and rich in leaf litter. These habitats are shaded by dense forest canopy, with submerged roots, driftwood, smooth stones, and decomposing botanicals creating a dark, tannin-stained environment.

Water flow is gentle, structure is abundant, and the substrate is typically sandy or fine sediment, making these fish naturally adapted to calm, heavily structured environments with natural cover.

Aquascaping:

• Plants: Anubias, Java Fern, Cryptocoryne, Moneywort, Amazon Sword, floating plants for soft shade
• Hardscape: Malaysian driftwood, spiderwood, smooth river stones, rounded rock formations
• Botanicals: Indian Almond Leaves, alder cones, seed pods, leaf litter for tannins and biofilm

This species thrives in natural-style aquascapes that emphasize soft structure, layered depth, and organic materials.

Diet and Feeding:

African Butterfly Cichlids are omnivorous with a preference for protein-rich foods.
They thrive on:

• High-quality micro pellets and flakes

• Frozen foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms)

• Live foods as enrichment

• Occasional vegetable-based foods for balance

A varied diet enhances coloration, health, and breeding behavior.

Tank Mates and Compatibility:

African Butterfly Cichlids are peaceful, social fish that integrate well into calm community aquariums. They do well with tetras, rasboras, Corydoras, peaceful barbs, small loaches, and other gentle West African species. Avoid housing them with aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping fish, or large predatory species. Outside of breeding pairs, they are calm, non-territorial, and community-safe, making them an excellent choice for balanced, planted aquariums.

Shrimp Compatibility:

Shrimp Safe with Caution
Adult shrimp may coexist in well-planted tanks, but shrimp fry may be preyed upon. Dense plant cover and botanicals improve survival rates.

Breeding:

Relatively easy to breed in captivity.
Pairs form naturally and will spawn on flat surfaces such as stones or wood.
Both parents actively guard eggs and fry, making them excellent biparental cichlid parents.
Tank-bred lines show strong parental instincts and stable breeding behavior.

Recommended Tank Parameters:

• Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
• pH: 6.0–7.2
• KH: 2–6 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons

Care Guidelines:

• Diet: Omnivore with protein preference
• Social Behavior: Peaceful, best kept in pairs or small groups
• Origin: Tank bred
• Average Adult Size: 2.5 – 3 inches
• Average Purchase Size: 1 – 1.5 inches

Why We Curate This Species:

The African Butterfly Cichlid represents what modern aquatics should be — beautiful, peaceful, natural, and balanced. It offers all the personality of a cichlid without the aggression, making it a perfect choice for aquascapers, community tank keepers, and breeders alike.

It’s a fish that doesn’t dominate a tank — it completes it.

Live Arrival Guarantee:

All Aquatic Arts animals are backed by our 100% Live Arrival Guarantee, plus free expert support to ensure long-term success with your aquarium.