New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Rainbow krib

Pelvicachromis pulcher Boulenger, 1901
Max Length
11 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
13.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Adults feed on worms, crustaceans and insects . In the river Sombreiro (Nigeria) observed to mainly feed on diatoms, algae, higher plants and detritus . Pair bonding , cave-spawning , substrate brooder . Aquarium keeping: in pairs; minimum aquarium size 80 cm .

Scientific Name
Pelvicachromis pulcher
Authority
Boulenger, 1901
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
11 cm
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
13.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Water Temp
24–25 °C

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8. Diagnosis: body elongate, moderately compressed, its depth 28.4-36.8% of standard length; head length 27.8-34.5% of standard length; 4-5 rows of monocuspid teeth in jaws; dorsal fin usually with spots or bands, dark posteriorly; lower part of body often reddish in life . Black mid-lateral band extends over caudal fin; base of dorsal fin heavily pigmented dark grey or black . : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Rainbow krib is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Despite the suggestion in some aquarium literature that the species feeds on worms, crustaceans, and insects, analysis of the stomach contents of wild P. pulcher suggests this is incorrect. A study by Nwadiaro (1985) of 161 individuals showed that the main food items were diatoms, green algae, pieces of higher plants, along with blue-green algae. Invertebrates, though consumed, were found to be relatively uncommon food items for wild fish.

🥚 Reproduction

Spawns in caves.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; demersal; pH range: 5.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19; non-migratory . Tropical; 24°C - 25°C ; 10°N - 4°N

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
3.3±0.39
Food Items

worms, crustaceans and insects (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01445 × L2.99 (TL)
Max TL
11cm
Dorsal Spines
16
Dorsal Rays
9
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
7

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
24–25°C
pH Range
5–8

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
13.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Boulenger, 1901

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Bone Back · Common Krib · Kribensis · Pink Krib · Purple cichlid · Rainbow Cichlid · Tilapia · rainbow krib
🌍AFR Kribs
🌍CES pestřenec červený
🇩🇰Danish Kongecichlide
🇩🇪German Königsbuntbarsch · Königscichlide · Purpurprachtbarsch
🇫🇮Finnish Palettikala
🇵🇱Polish Barwniak Czerwonobrzuchy
🇵🇹Portuguese Ciclídeo-multicolorido
🇷🇺Russian Пёстрый попугайчик
🇸🇪Swedish Palettcichlid

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Pelmatochromis aureocephalus Meinken 1960 Synonym
Pelmatochromis aurocephalus Meinken 1960 Synonym
Pelmatochromis camerunensis Thys van den Audenaerde 1968 Synonym
Pelmatochromis pulcher Boulenger 1901 Synonym
Pelvicachromis sacramontis Paulo 1977 Synonym
Pelvicachromis sacrimontis Paulo 1977 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 61 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Rainbow krib ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.