{"id":12735,"date":"2026-02-17T23:26:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/slender-blockhead-cichlid-steatocranus-tinanti-5cm\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T23:26:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:26:05","slug":"slender-blockhead-cichlid-steatocranus-tinanti-5cm","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=slender-blockhead-cichlid-steatocranus-tinanti-5cm","title":{"rendered":"Slender Blockhead Cichlid Steatocranus Tinanti &#8211; 5cm"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"266\" data-end=\"790\"><strong data-start=\"266\" data-end=\"279\">Overview:<\/strong><br data-start=\"279\" data-end=\"282\" \/>The <strong data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"315\">Slender Blockhead Cichlid<\/strong> is a <strong data-start=\"321\" data-end=\"365\">peaceful, river-dwelling African cichlid<\/strong> known for its <strong data-start=\"380\" data-end=\"398\">elongated body<\/strong>, distinctive <strong data-start=\"412\" data-end=\"429\">forehead hump<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"435\" data-end=\"465\">subtle metallic coloration<\/strong>\u2014typically featuring hues of <strong data-start=\"494\" data-end=\"520\">silver, blue, or olive<\/strong>. Unlike most cichlids, this species has evolved for life in <strong data-start=\"581\" data-end=\"605\">fast-flowing streams<\/strong>, giving it a unique <strong data-start=\"626\" data-end=\"643\">torpedo shape<\/strong> and a calm, bottom-oriented swimming style. Ideal for aquarists looking to try something different in a <strong data-start=\"748\" data-end=\"789\">West or Central African river biotope<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"792\" data-end=\"980\"><strong data-start=\"792\" data-end=\"803\">Origin:<\/strong><br data-start=\"803\" data-end=\"806\" \/>Native to the <strong data-start=\"820\" data-end=\"841\">Congo River Basin<\/strong> in Central Africa, <em data-start=\"861\" data-end=\"883\">Steatocranus tinanti<\/em> is adapted to <strong data-start=\"898\" data-end=\"937\">high-flow, oxygen-rich environments<\/strong> with rocky bottoms and limited vegetation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"982\" data-end=\"1242\"><strong data-start=\"982\" data-end=\"994\">Feeding:<\/strong><br data-start=\"994\" data-end=\"997\" \/>Omnivorous and easy to feed. Offer a mix of <strong data-start=\"1041\" data-end=\"1081\">high-quality sinking cichlid pellets<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1083\" data-end=\"1107\">frozen or live foods<\/strong> (like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia), and some <strong data-start=\"1163\" data-end=\"1183\">vegetable matter<\/strong> (spirulina flakes or blanched greens) for a balanced diet.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1244\" data-end=\"1555\"><strong data-start=\"1244\" data-end=\"1259\">Tank Mates:<\/strong><br data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1262\" \/>Surprisingly <strong data-start=\"1275\" data-end=\"1301\">peaceful for a cichlid<\/strong>, and well-suited to <strong data-start=\"1322\" data-end=\"1341\">community tanks<\/strong> with similarly sized, calm species. Ideal companions include <strong data-start=\"1403\" data-end=\"1425\">synodontis catfish<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1427\" data-end=\"1443\">Congo tetras<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1445\" data-end=\"1464\">smaller bichirs<\/strong>, and other non-aggressive African fish. Avoid overly aggressive or fin-nipping tank mates.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1557\" data-end=\"1580\"><strong data-start=\"1557\" data-end=\"1578\">Water Parameters:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1802\">\n<li data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1619\">\n<p data-start=\"1583\" data-end=\"1619\">Temperature: <strong data-start=\"1596\" data-end=\"1617\">75\u201380\u00b0F (24\u201327\u00b0C)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1620\" data-end=\"1639\">\n<p data-start=\"1622\" data-end=\"1639\">pH: <strong data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1637\">6.5\u20137.8<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1640\" data-end=\"1666\">\n<p data-start=\"1642\" data-end=\"1666\">Hardness: <strong data-start=\"1652\" data-end=\"1664\">6\u201315 dGH<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1667\" data-end=\"1715\">\n<p data-start=\"1669\" data-end=\"1715\">Minimum Tank Size: <strong data-start=\"1688\" data-end=\"1702\">30 gallons<\/strong> for a pair<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1716\" data-end=\"1802\">\n<p data-start=\"1718\" data-end=\"1802\">Prefers <strong data-start=\"1726\" data-end=\"1747\">strong water flow<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1749\" data-end=\"1774\">well-oxygenated water<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"1780\" data-end=\"1802\">rocky hiding areas<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1804\" data-end=\"1833\"><strong data-start=\"1804\" data-end=\"1831\">Behavior &amp; Personality:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1834\" data-end=\"1999\">\n<li data-start=\"1834\" data-end=\"1891\">\n<p data-start=\"1836\" data-end=\"1891\">Bottom-dweller with a <strong data-start=\"1858\" data-end=\"1889\">territorial but calm nature<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1892\" data-end=\"1947\">\n<p data-start=\"1894\" data-end=\"1947\">Enjoys perching on rocks and observing surroundings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1948\" data-end=\"1999\">\n<p data-start=\"1950\" data-end=\"1999\">Forms <strong data-start=\"1956\" data-end=\"1976\">monogamous pairs<\/strong> and may spawn in caves<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2001\" data-end=\"2021\"><strong data-start=\"2001\" data-end=\"2019\">Special Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2022\" data-end=\"2298\">\n<li data-start=\"2022\" data-end=\"2094\">\n<p data-start=\"2024\" data-end=\"2094\">Great for <strong data-start=\"2034\" data-end=\"2057\">riverine aquascapes<\/strong> with strong filtration and current<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2095\" data-end=\"2179\">\n<p data-start=\"2097\" data-end=\"2179\">Not a true \u201cblockhead\u201d like <em data-start=\"2125\" data-end=\"2139\">S. casuarius<\/em>, but still has a <strong data-start=\"2157\" data-end=\"2177\">mild nuchal hump<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2180\" data-end=\"2244\">\n<p data-start=\"2182\" data-end=\"2244\">Will dig and rearrange substrate, especially during breeding<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2245\" data-end=\"2298\">\n<p data-start=\"2247\" data-end=\"2298\">Relatively <strong data-start=\"2258\" data-end=\"2285\">underrated and uncommon<\/strong> in the hobby<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2300\" data-end=\"2545\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The <strong data-start=\"2304\" data-end=\"2333\">Slender Blockhead Cichlid<\/strong> offers a perfect balance of <strong data-start=\"2362\" data-end=\"2405\">unique appearance, peaceful temperament<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"2411\" data-end=\"2435\">interesting behavior<\/strong>\u2014an excellent choice for aquarists looking to explore the lesser-known world of <strong data-start=\"2515\" data-end=\"2544\">African riverine cichlids<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview:The Slender Blockhead Cichlid is a peaceful, river-dwelling African cichlid known for its elongated body, distinctive forehead hump, and subtle metallic coloration\u2014typically featuring hues of silver, blue, or olive. Unlike most cichlids, this species has evolved for life in fast-flowing streams, giving it a unique torpedo shape and a calm, bottom-oriented swimming style. Ideal for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12734,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[29],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12735","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-african-cichlid-other","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/12735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=12735"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=12735"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=12735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}