Steatocranus Casuarius - Lionhead

Steatocranus Casuarius - Lionhead

Common name: Lionhead cichlid, blockhead cichlid
Scientif name: Steatocranus casuarius
Max size: Males 4 ½ in / 11 cm, females 2 in / 8 cm
pH: 6.0 - 8.0
Temperature: 73 - 82 ° F / 23 - 28 ° C

The Lionhead cichlid is different from most other cichlids since it rarely ever swims; it just jumps over the bottom of the tank. This behaviour is an adaptation to the environment it inhabits in the wild. Lionhead cichlids live in rapidly moving creeks and rivers. By skipping along the bottom they need to spend less energy fighting the current. The Lionhead cichlid is native to eastern Africa where it is found in the Congo - Zaire region.

The Lionhead cichlid has a reduced swim bladder which makes it much less buoyant than other cichlids. This means that it can not swim as gracefully as other cichlids even if it wanted to. This too is an adaptation to environment it lives in.
The Lionhead cichlid is a hardy species that can be recommended as someone’s first cichlid.