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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Telmatochromis brichardi.jpg Telmatochromis brichardi 'Magara'.jpg
Previous pageTelmatochromis brichardi 'Magara'
Tribe / Genus: Lamprologini / Telmatochromis
Type locality: Usumbura (Burundi), Lake Tanganyika.
Biotope: Rocky habitat in clear, hard and alkaline water, mainly at depths between 5 and 20 m.
Water temperature is typically around 24–26 °C.
Geographic distribution: Restricted to the northern part of Lake Tanganyika in Burundi, from approximately 20 km south of Bujumbura to Rumonge.
Typical adult size: Usually around 7 cm for males and 6 cm for females; wild specimens from the type series reach up to 4.87 cm, while aquarium specimens may attain 8–9 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Females are approximately 20 % smaller than males.
Recommended aquarium size: 80 L.
Aquarium setup: An aquarium with abundant rockwork to create caves and narrow crevices; the bottom should be fine sand, with some empty snail shells placed on the substrate.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding mainly on algae and other microorganisms living in aufwuchs.
Algae are removed from the substrate with a characteristic jerking movement, during which the body bends into an “S” shape.
Breeding: Substrate spawner forming pairs. Spawning takes place in caves or narrow crevices, and snail shells are readily used when available.
The male courts the female with an intense display directed toward potential spawning sites until one is chosen. The clutch usually consists of up to about 50 eggs, which are fertilized by the male and cared for by both parents.
The fry remain hidden and secretive during their first week.
Aggression: A peaceful cichlid that can be kept in relatively small aquaria.
Special notes: This species is mainly associated with rocky habitats and is very rare in areas dominated by shell beds, where Telmatochromis temporalis and Telmatochromis vittatus, especially their dwarf forms, are more common.
Telmatochromis brichardi was long confused with Telmatochromis bifrenatus until its description by P. Louisy. It can be easily distinguished by the absence of a third longitudinal stripe between the median and dorsal stripes, which is present in T. bifrenatus, as well as by its overall lighter basic coloration.

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Photo: © Eric Dasmien
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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