Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Lionhead Cichlid

Steatocranus casuarius Poll, 1939

Also called African blockhead, Buffalohead cichlid, Humphead cichlid, Lumphead

SpeciesShort profile

From Central Africa: Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool) and the lower Congo River in the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.1 2 3

At a glance the quick version

Length10 to 12 cm1 2 3

Sizesmall

Unique forehead hump

Charming hopping swimming style

Dedicated parents

Looks how to spot one

Bottom-dwelling rapids cichlid

A sturdy, elongated cichlid with a big rounded forehead hump that is most impressive in adult males.2 3

Coloursmuted, understated tones2

Personality what they are like

Territorial and pair-oriented; settles best with non-cichlid tankmates.2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Hops along the bottom in short bursts instead of swimming in open water.2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide strong flow and good oxygenation in parts of the tank, with quieter corners, plus caves made from rocks.2 3

Home where they are happiest

Tropical water of about 24 to 28 C, pH roughly 6 to 8 and 2-19 dGH, in a tank with a base of at least 75 x 30 cm (FishBase suggests 80 cm for a pair).2 1

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Feeds a lot on algae in the wild; offer quality pellets or flakes plus live or frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp.1 2

Company who they like around

Keep as a pair; good with tetras, plecos and catfish, and other cichlids only in a very large tank.2 1

The story where it all began

Poll described the species in 1939 from Pool Malebo and the lower Congo River. It is a rapids specialist that is also found in the aquarium trade.1 3

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Its swim bladder is reduced, so it hops along the bottom instead of hovering in midwater.2
2
The forehead hump can change size quite quickly.2
3
It lives in fast-flowing rapids, which makes it a rheophilic fish.3
4
Both parents guard their young for up to three months.2

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 16 February 2009)1
Taxonomy: Described by Poll in 1939; family Cichlidae1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Lionhead Cichlid. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
Water testevery week
Glass cleanevery week
Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month

Start a free diary

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FishBase: Steatocranus casuarius fishbase.seused for distribution, size, water parameters, IUCN, diet, describer
Seriously Fish: Steatocranus casuarius seriouslyfish.comused for names, size, water parameters, tank size, flow, diet, behaviour, swimbladder
Wikipedia: Steatocranus casuarius en.wikipedia.orgused for names, size, habitat

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.