Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Altolamprologus compressiceps 'Bulu Point'.jpg Bathybates ferox 'Bulu Point'.jpg Chalinochromis sp. 'ndobhoi' Bulu Point.jpg Cyathopharynx sp. 'green flush' Bulu Point.jpg Cyphotilapia frontosa 'Bulu Point'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageChalinochromis sp. 'ndobhoi' Bulu Point
Tribe / Genus: Lamprologini / Chalinochromis
Biotope: Rocky and intermediate habitats, most commonly at depths of 5–15 m.
Geographic distribution: Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania), from Magambo to Miyako Point.
Typical adult size: Up to 13 cm total length in the lake; in aquaria can reach up to 16 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are always larger than females.
Recommended aquarium size: 150 L (pair).
Aquarium setup: Provide extensive rockwork with many passages and hiding places. Due to strong intraspecific aggression, keep as a pair in smaller tanks, while groups require a much larger aquarium (about 500 L or more). A practical approach is to start with a group of juveniles and remove extra individuals once a stable pair forms.
Diet: Feeds on sponges and invertebrates picked from aufwuchs on rocks, and may also take other small invertebrates and some algae. In aquaria it accepts most foods; offer quality frozen/live options such as krill and mysis.
Breeding: Pair-forming cave spawner. Spawning occurs inside caves; parents defend large broods (reported over 150 juveniles). When fry reach about 1 cm, the parents move them out of the cave into the open. Early fry behave “Julidochromis-like” (staying close to rocks), later forming a loose “cloud” typical of larger lamprologines. Parents guard the brood for a period and then leave it.
Aggression: Highly aggressive toward conspecifics; also becomes aggressive toward other species during breeding.
Special notes: Treated on tanganyika.si as a separate species, Chalinochromis sp. 'ndobhoi'. Juveniles show two horizontal body lines which, in adults, become broken/dashed; typical C. brichardi forms are plain without such body striping.

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