During the Aqua-Fisch Friedrichshafen Benjamin Hamann (Das Biotop) and JBL manned a joint information desk about setting up aquariums and biotope aquatics. For this purpose two different aquarium types were set up, one based on nature and one following the requirements of a biotope aquarium. The visitors showed great interest and followed the almost two-hour presentation with great enthusiasm. They made the most of the opportunity to ask detailed questions and clearly loved the experts’ setups and tips. I was on-site for JBL and was able to round off the presentations by joining biotope expert Benjamin Hamann and giving additional professional tips. At another presentation area we had impressive underwater shots from the JBL expeditions and Waldemar Fischer on display.
We have edited the setup for you into a video so that you can follow it quickly and easily at home.
Background information about the Africa/Nigeria biotopes
The region of the Lower Nile is the home of one of the most popular dwarf cichlids in aquatics: the kribensis, also called purple cichlid. This species you can find in their African home in small to middle-sized brooks and rivers.
You can often find masses of anubias and Congo fern at the banks of these biotopes. At certain times of the year these plants live out of the water. When the water levels rise they can also survive under water.
You can find a huge diversity of flora in these waters, and also a diversity of fish species. Along with quite a lot of killifish, which often have a short life span, there are Peters' elephantnose fish, knifefish and butterfly fish which feel at home in these small jungle waters. Often the water there is red-brown and creates a dark climate which enables fish to develop their colours fully.
Recommended species
- Pelvicachromis pulcher
- Pelvicachromis silviae
- Pelvicachromis sacrimontis
- Fundulopanchax gardneri
- Alestes longipinnis
- Arnoldichthys spilopterus
- Pantodon buchholzi
- Xenomystus nigri
