🐟TankstockerFreshwater Stocking & Compatibility

🐡 Venustus Cichlid Nimbochromis venustus

Venustus Cichlid (Nimbochromis venustus) — male
Male
Venustus Cichlid (Nimbochromis venustus) — female
Female

The Venustus Cichlid (Nimbochromis venustus) is a moderate-care, aggressive species from Lake Malawi. Adults reach roughly 10", so plan on a minimum tank of 125 gallons. Keep the water between 75–82°F with a pH of 7.6–8.6. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. It is predatory and will eat fish small enough to fit in its mouth. As a carnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Adult size10"
Minimum tank125 gallons
Temperature75–82°F
pH7.6–8.6
TemperamentAggressive
SchoolingNo
DietCarnivore
Care levelModerate
OriginLake Malawi

Good tankmates for Venustus Cichlid

This species is best kept in a species-only setup.

Avoid these tankmates

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyMollySwordtailBetta (male)German Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisConvict CichlidZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbRosy BarbWhite Cloud MinnowDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachPictus CatfishCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiParadise FishKeyhole CichlidRainbow CichlidYellow Lab CichlidDemasoni CichlidAuratus CichlidMultifasciatusJulidochromisPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoRed Tail SharkFlying FoxDwarf PufferfishFigure-8 PufferBlack Ghost KnifefishAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishLeast KillifishCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpBamboo ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailRabbit SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishForktail Blue-eyeRed RainbowfishLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidElectric Yellow CichlidRed Zebra CichlidBrichardiTropheus DuboisiShell-DwellerEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Blue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishClown KillifishRed SwordtailHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollySailfin MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

See the full tankmate guide for Venustus Cichlid →