Payne's Jewel Cichlid, Fade (Rubricatochromis paynei)

Quick Facts

• Current accepted name: Rubricatochromis paynei; still often traded as Hemichromis paynei.
• Common name: Payne's Jewel Cichlid, Fade.
• Natural range: coastal basins of southeastern Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
• Adult size: up to about 12 cm standard length; the supplied 4-5 cm and 5-7 cm fish are juveniles.
• Best for: experienced cichlid keepers who can plan around territorial behaviour.
• Suggested aquarium: 100 litres or more for a single specimen, with more space for a pair or any robust tank mates.
• Water target: 24-28°C, pH 6.0-7.5, soft to moderately hard water.

Care area	Best target for this listing	Why it matters
Tank style	Structured West African cichlid aquarium	Caves, roots and broken sight lines reduce constant territorial pressure.
Adult planning size	Up to about 12 cm standard length	The 4-5 cm and 5-7 cm variants are juveniles, so plan for adult behaviour now.
Keeper level	Experienced / confident intermediate	This is a rewarding cichlid, but not a peaceful community fish.
Best visual result	Warm, clean, stable water with secure cover	Colour and posture improve when the fish can hold territory without constant stress.

Overview

Payne's Jewel Cichlid, Fade is a compact but forceful West African jewel cichlid with the colour, confidence and territorial drive that make this group so memorable. The fish is listed by the supplier as Hemichromis paynei, while current FishBase taxonomy places it as Rubricatochromis paynei. Keeping both names visible helps aquarists connect older trade names with the current scientific record.

This is not a soft community fish. It is a vivid, intelligent cichlid for keepers who enjoy behaviour as much as colour: boundary patrols, cave ownership, confident feeding and strong pair defence if breeding begins. The young fish offered here may arrive at 4-5 cm or 5-7 cm depending on variant, but the species should be planned as a fish that can reach around 12 cm standard length. Give it enough room early and the colour, posture and confidence have far more chance to develop cleanly.

Appearance and Display

The appeal is visual first: red-orange jewel-cichlid colour, blue spangling over the head and flanks, a dark lateral spot and a strong cichlid body shape. FishBase describes the species as having extensive blue spangling and a round black lateral spot above the midline. In aquarium lighting this gives the fish a bright, speckled look rather than a plain block of red. The supplier's "Fade" wording is treated here as the trade/variant name, not as a separate scientifically fixed form.

Good colour depends on more than lighting. Stable warm water, clean filtration, a varied diet and a layout that lets the fish feel secure all matter. If the fish spends every day fighting reflections, chasing unsuitable tank mates or living in a bare tank, the display will suffer. If it has caves, sight breaks and a clear territory, the same fish can look far more composed.

Natural Habitat and Identity

Reliable species-level information for this fish is more limited than for common jewel cichlids, so the listing should be honest about what is known. FishBase records Rubricatochromis paynei from coastal basins in southeastern Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, with freshwater and brackish benthopelagic habitat noted. It is mainly a coastal-area species, not a Lake Malawi or Lake Tanganyika cichlid.

There is also a useful caution for older hobby information: FishBase notes that specimens called Hemichromis paynei in aquarist publications before 2004 were misidentified. That is why this page avoids borrowing exact care claims from older, unrelated jewel-cichlid writeups and instead combines the verified identity facts with conservative, practical cichlid husbandry.

Aquarium Setup

Build the tank around territory. Use caves, rock piles, driftwood roots and hardy planting or artificial cover to break the line of sight. A single open space with one cave often creates one defended hotspot; several broken areas let the fish patrol without feeling that the whole aquarium is one battleground. Sand or fine gravel suits natural digging and makes maintenance easier.

A 100 litre aquarium is a sensible practical starting point for a single juvenile growing on. Larger tanks are strongly preferred if you want to try a pair or carefully selected companions. Secure heavy decor before the fish starts digging, and leave open swimming lanes at the front so the colour can still be enjoyed. Strong biological filtration and weekly water changes are important because cichlids feed eagerly and produce real waste.

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 24-28°C.
• pH: 6.0-7.5.
• Hardness: soft to moderately hard, roughly 5-15 dGH as a practical aquarium range.
• Tank region: mostly middle and lower areas, especially around chosen cover.
• Maintenance: stable temperature, mature filtration and regular partial water changes.

Parameter	Target range	Practical note
Temperature	24-28°C	Keep warm and stable; avoid sudden drops during acclimation.
pH	6.0-7.5	Stability matters more than chasing an exact number.
Hardness	Soft to moderately hard, around 5-15 dGH	A mature, well-filtered aquarium inside this range is preferred.
Layout	Middle/lower territories around cover	Use several caves or broken areas rather than one single defended hotspot.

Do not chase numbers with sudden chemical swings. A stable mature aquarium inside the range is safer than repeated corrections. Acclimate new arrivals carefully and keep the first week quiet: dimmer light, no immediate tankmate reshuffles and no overfeeding while the fish settles.

Feeding

Feed as an omnivorous cichlid with a strong appetite for protein-rich foods. A quality cichlid pellet or granule can be the staple, supported by frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis and chopped seafood. Occasional spirulina or vegetable-based foods keep the diet rounded. Small, confident meals are better than heavy dumps of food; territorial fish often feed hard, and overfeeding quickly works against water quality.

Temperament and Tank Mates

Expect territorial behaviour, especially as the fish matures or pairs. The safest recommendation is a species-focused setup, either a single specimen or a carefully watched pair in enough space. In a larger aquarium, robust, fast tank mates may be possible, but they must be chosen for similar water needs and enough toughness to avoid being bullied. Small tetras, shrimp, ornamental snails, slow long-finned fish and peaceful community species are poor choices.

Tank mate type	Suitability	Reason
Single-species setup	Best choice	Lets the fish show colour and behaviour without constant conflict.
Carefully watched pair	Possible in enough space	Pairs may become very defensive once breeding behaviour starts.
Robust, fast fish in a larger aquarium	Conditional	Only with similar water needs, escape room and a backup plan.
Shrimp, small tetras, slow long-finned fish	Avoid	Too vulnerable for a territorial jewel cichlid.

If aggression rises, look at the layout before blaming only the fish. Extra caves, blocked sight lines and a wider spread of territories can reduce constant confrontation. If breeding behaviour begins, be ready to separate tank mates. Jewel cichlid pairs can become extremely protective around eggs and fry.

Breeding Notes

Plan for typical jewel-cichlid substrate spawning: a pair chooses a flat stone, cave surface or defended patch, then protects the site closely. Parents may guard eggs and fry with real intensity. A separate breeding aquarium is usually the cleaner choice if you want to raise fry rather than manage a defensive pair in a mixed display. Keep water quality high, keep disturbance low and remove incompatible fish before the pair is forced to defend against them.

Delivery and Support

Every live fish order from Tropical Fish Co is packed for animal welfare first, with livestock courier handling, clear acclimation guidance and our Live Arrival Guarantee. For this species, the most important buying decision is not just colour; it is whether your tank can handle a territorial West African cichlid as it grows. If you are unsure about tank size, pairing or compatibility, ask before ordering so the fish goes into a setup built for success.

Sources Checked

• FishBase species record for Rubricatochromis paynei: current taxonomy, distribution, habitat notes and maximum size.
• FishBase legacy Hemichromis paynei page: trade-name context and misidentification caution.
• Aquarium Glaser note on Rubricatochromis: hobby-facing context for the updated jewel-cichlid genus name.
• Supplier record for SKU 0603/0604: trade name, juvenile size variants and Tropical Fish Co stock/variant data.