Steatocranus casuarius Poll, 1939
Pronounced: stee-at-oh-CRAN-uss cass-you-are-EE-uss

Quick Facts

Availability Hardiness Overall appeal

• Description....
• Steatocranus casuarius is a stocky elongated fish with a cranial hump characteristic of the fish in this genus.
• The body shape identifies them as a bottom-dwelling cichlid.
• Colouration is brown-black to deep olive-grey.
• The eyes are turquoise green.
• The face is short and chubby and ends in a large mouth with fleshy, non-protruding lips.
• The dorsal fin has a very long base. It runs from just behind the hump, back to the start of the caudal penuncle.
• Depending on the mood and water conditions, the body colour changes from a dark, slate grey to a light grey.
• When the body colour is light, the body is marked with darker vertical stripes. The underside of the fish is a contrasting creamy-white.
• Juveniles are a pale grey marked with stripes. Even when small, the head hump starts to become obvious as a small bump in the profile.
• Similar species.... None
• Taxonomy and systematics....
• Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata: Sub-phylum: Vertebrates - Group: Fish
    • Class: Osteichthyes (Bony Fish): Sub-class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)
      • Order: Perciformes (Perch-like)
        • Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids): subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
          • Genus: Steatocranus
            • Species: casuarius
• Geographical variants.... None.

Steatocranus casuarius originates from West Africa where it's natural habitat is the rocky areas and fast flowing waters of the lower and middle regions of the Congo River, and particularly the Malebo (Stanley) Pool.

Information relating to tank size is indicative and depends on factors including the type and size of fish kept with the species being discussed. It is intended to be used as a rough guide only to give some idea of the space requirements for the fish.

• Tank....
• A tank measuring 80 centimetres with a capacity of around 100 litres is sufficient.
• Example - African rapids biotope tank
  • 90x45x45 centimetres (36x18x18 inches); 182 litres
    • 3 x Steatocranus casuarius
    • 3 x Synodontis nigriventris
    • 5 x Phenacogrammus interruptus
• Decoration....
• As for Steatocranus tinanti, the tank should be decorated with rocks and caves.
• The substrate should be a fine rounded gravel.
• Suitable plants include Vallisneria, Anubias sp and African Water Fern (Bolbitus heudelotii). Steatocranus casuarius, like other West African cichlids, does not harm plants.
  
• Maintenance and Disease....
• Steatocranus casuarius has a high oxygen requirment.
• The filter outlets should be located above the water line to increase aeration. Additonal aeration can be provided by using an airstone.
• If there is not enough dissolved oxygen in the water, the fish will be seen gasping.
• Ensure regular maintenance and partial water changes are undertaken.
• The tank also needs calm spots, so they don't have to constantly struggle against the current.
• They can tolerate a wide range of water parameters and can even be kept in the more alkaline waters favoured by Rift Lake Cichlids. The primary consideration is to ensure there is suffcient filtration to provide a high level of dissolved oxygen.
• Water parameters:
  • pH: acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0: optimal 6.8)
  • Hardness: moderate (5-19dH)
  • Temperature: 24-28oC.
    
• Compatibility....
• Steatocranus casuarius can be quite aggressive towards their own species and other bottom dwelling cichlids, unless enough hiding places are provided. They are peaceful towards non-cichlid bottom-dwellers.
• They should not be kept with Steatocranus tinanti as they will quickly displace S. tinanti from their territory.
• They may be shy unless kept with suitable dither fish.
• They can be combined with a variety of larger fish.
  
  

  The fish listed below are indicative of the species that can be kept with this fish. Other fish may also be suitable - please ask us which other fish are compatible. Africa - Riverine African Butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi) Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis lifalili) Distichodus sexfasciatus Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma acutirostre) Synodontis angelicus ______________________________ Africa - Lake Malawi Protomelas annectens Electric Yellow (Labidochromis caeruleus) Blue Dolphin (Cyrtocara moorii) ______________________________ Africa - Lake Tanganyika Cyprichromis leptosoma Astatotilapia burtoni ______________________________ South America Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) Red Hump (Geophagus steindachneri) Sailfin Pleco (Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps) ______________________________ Australia/New Guinea Boeseman's Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) Melanotaenia lacustris

  
  
• Breeding....
• Steatocranus casuarius are monogamous secretive substrate spawners.
• Both parents care for the brood once the fry are free swimming.
• The eggs are large, pear shaped and orange coloured.
• As many as 150, but more likely 30-60 eggs are laid on the roof of a cave.
• The eggs are carefully guarded by the female, while the male guards the territory (patriarch/matriarch family).
• Hatching occurs after 5-6 days and fry are free swimming 4-5 days later.
• Older fry are tolerated within the parent's territory, even after a new clutch has been spawned.
• The fry can be fed on newly hatched brine shrimp and commercial fry foods.
• The parents continue their care for one or two weeks with the female feeding the young.
• Breeding is not especially difficult.
  Special breeding notes....
• To breed, use water with:
  • pH from 6.5-6.9
  • hardness from 4-12 dH
  • temperature from 27-29oC.
• The pair can be bred in a 60 centimetre tank with rockwork caves or over-turned terracotta pots as spawning sites.

The strange appearance this fish make them an interesting addition to the tank. They are an undemanding and enteraining fish. Because of its small swim-bladder, they move in a jerky-hops around the tank. Although it is a bit on the aggressive side, the Humphead is still recommended for many community tanks.

References:
www.fishbase.org

WetPetz
ph: (07) 3823 1866