The red jewel cichlids (Rubricatochromis, formerly classified as Hemichromis) are without doubt among the most beautiful fish in the world, at least some of them. If they weren’t such excellent parents, who regard every other fish in the aquarium as an enemy of their young and beat them up as a precautionary measure during the breeding season (and breeding season is actually all year round for these fish, as soon as they reach sexual maturity at a total length of 4-5 cm), there would certainly be a pair of red cichlids swimming in every aquarium. However, they are more a case for specialists. Identifying the species is often impossible. Rubricatochromis exsul is a welcome exception, this red jewel cichlid can hardly be confused because of its strikingly dark fins and the almost always missing lateral spot.
Rubricatochromis exsul is found exclusively in Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolf) in Kenya. The species was already scientifically described in 1933, but was later regarded as a synonym of another red jewel cichlid, R. letourneuxi.It was only when Lothar Seegers was able to catch a specimen and bring it back to Germany alive for further observation (he reported on this with a color photo in 1998) that it became clear that this assessment was probably wrong.The Lake Turkana Rubricatochromis differs so much in color from the variably colored species R. letourneuxi that a equality of both species can be ruled out. Because there are no commercial ornamental fish exports of freshwater species in Kenya, it took another 20 years before the animals became available for aquariums (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/hemichromis-exsul-2/). Since then, this wonderfully colored fish has enjoyed great popularity (at least by Rubricatochromis standards). For practical reasons, there is always a selection for relatively peaceful animals under aquarium conditions, even if this is not necessarily desirable. However, this can hardly be avoided. And so today’s aquarium exsuls are already much more peaceful than their ancestors that arrived from Kenya in 2018.
For our customers: the animals have code 536351 (3-4 cm) and 536352 (4-6 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
