Brichard's Teleogramma
Teleogramma brichardi
Cichlidae
About
Brichard's Teleogramma is a slender, elongated rheophilic cichlid from the turbulent rapids of the lower Congo River near Kinshasa. With a reduced swim bladder it does not hover but hops and darts along the bottom between rocks, much like a goby, hunting invertebrates in fast, highly oxygenated water. Pairs are strongly territorial and this critically endangered specialist rewards keepers who can recreate its powerful current.
Care
Provide strong flow and near-saturation oxygen in a long tank with sand and abundant rock crevices for shelter and cave spawning. Keep as a single bonded pair; both sexes are territorial, especially when breeding, so give other bottom-dwellers ample space or omit them.
Diet
Carnivorous benthic forager that gleans small invertebrates from the rocks; feed frozen and live bloodworm, mysis and brine shrimp with sinking carnivore pellets, offered in small frequent portions.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (33)
Possible with care (177)
Avoid (61)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Brichard's Teleogramma need?
- A Brichard's Teleogramma needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Brichard's Teleogramma need?
- Brichard's Teleogramma does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 4–12 °dGH.
- Is the Brichard's Teleogramma suitable for beginners?
- Brichard's Teleogramma is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.