Jewel Cichlid

might be a synonym of H. fasciatus. H. elongatus of the Congo River basin and upper Zambezi may represent a species that is distinct from H. faciatus elsewhere, and "dwarf" populations in lakes Barombi Koto and Mboandong may also be distinct. although some have opted to retain the two as a single species. A similar pattern can be seen in introduced populations elsewhere that traditionally were identified as H. bimaculatus, but likely are other species, especially H. letourneuxi.

Currently, 13 recognized species are placed in this genus: * Hemichromis angolensis Steindachner, 1865 * Hemichromis bimaculatus T. N. Gill, 1862 (jewelfish) *Hemichromis camerounensis *Hemichromis cerasogaster (Boulenger, 1899) * Hemichromis elongatus (Guichenot, 1861) (banded jewel cichlid) * Hemichromis exsul (Trewavas, 1933) (Turkana jewel cichlid) * Hemichromis fasciatus W. K. H. Peters, 1857 (banded jewelfish, five-spot cichlid) * Hemichromis frempongi Loiselle, 1979 * Hemichromis guttatus Günther, 1862 * Hemichromis letourneuxi Sauvage, 1880 * Hemichromis lifalili Loiselle, 1979 * Hemichromis saharae Sauvage, 1880 * Hemichromis stellifer Loiselle, 1979

Jewel cichlids are neither suited to beginners nor the usual community tank. Several young specimens may be kept in a spacious aquarium, with stones and wood for cover until a pair forms prior to breeding. Their innate aggression makes them good candidates for keeping in a monospecies aquarium, but this depends on a number of factors similar to all tropical cichlid fish - swimming and territory space, other aquatic inhabitants, diet and feeding frequency, and tank layout. Jewel cichlids are omnivorous and eat both live foods and fish flakes.