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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Limnotilapia dardennii.jpg Limnotilapia dardennii 'Isanga Bay'.jpg Limnotilapia dardennii 'Kalambo Lodge'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageLimnotilapia dardennii 'Isanga Bay'
Tribe / Genus: Tropheini / Limnotilapia
Type locality: Moliro, Zaire, Lake Tanganyika.
Biotope: Intermediate habitats and coastal bays with abundant vegetation; commonly found in sediment-rich shallow waters and often over sandy substrate lacking rocky shelters.
Geographic distribution: Occurs all around the coastline of Lake Tanganyika, with no known geographical races.
Typical adult size: Males reach up to about 26 cm total length, while females remain smaller at around 18–20 cm.
Recommended aquarium size: At least 600 L; a tank length of around 2 meters is recommended for fully grown specimens.
Aquarium setup: Use fine sand as substrate, with selected areas planted with aquatic vegetation. Strong filtration is required due to the species’ size and feeding behavior. It should be kept together with other robust Lake Tanganyika cichlids.
Diet: Omnivorous. Feeds primarily on plants and algae, but also consumes various invertebrates. Stomach analyses revealed plant material, filamentous algae, and animal matter.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder, as in all tropheines. Males construct sand nests and defend spawning territories. The clutch may exceed 100 eggs, each approximately 6 mm in diameter. Breeding males and mouthbrooding females can be found throughout the year.
Aggression: Highly aggressive toward conspecifics, but relatively tolerant of other species.
Special notes: A tropheine species with a very flattened body and a short head, resembling Simochromis diagramma or Tropheus in overall profile. Among plant-eating tropheines it is the least specialized and least rock-dwelling species, yet very abundant and successful in the lake. Its vivid greenish coloration with red and yellow underparts recalls both Simochromis diagramma and Ctenochromis horei.

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Photo: © M. Kwolek-Mirek
Photo: © M. Kwolek-Mirek
Photo: © M. Kwolek-Mirek
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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