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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Reganochromis calliurus 'Karago'.jpg Tropheus sp. 'crescentic' Karago.jpg Xenotilapia ornatipinnis 'Karago'.jpg
Previous pageXenotilapia ornatipinnis 'Karago'
Tribe / Genus: Ectodini / Xenotilapia
Type locality: Sibwesa, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania
Biotope: Predominantly inhabits deep sandy and muddy bottoms. Recorded at depths down to 160 m, but can also be found in shallow water at about 5–15 m. Appears to prefer deeper water during the day and migrate into shallower areas at night, likely for feeding.
Geographic distribution: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika with a lake-wide distribution in suitable habitats.
Typical adult size: Males reach up to about 13 cm total length, while females remain slightly smaller. Juveniles grow to approximately 8 cm within one year and reach sexual maturity at that size.
Sexual dimorphism: Males display a vividly colored dorsal fin that shimmers depending on the angle of light, along with horizontal pearly lines along the body. Females are entirely silvery and show 5–7 indistinct black spots in the dorsal fin.
Recommended aquarium size: Around 250 liters, with a minimum aquarium length of about 130 cm for a small group.
Aquarium setup: Fine sand substrate with a few small, smooth stones acting as visual boundaries between territories. Stones must not have sharp edges to avoid damage to the large and delicate eyes. In the aquarium the species is relatively calm, and males will only chase each other without causing injuries.
Diet: Carnivorous. Possesses a short digestive tract (about 90 mm), indicating a diet mainly consisting of insect larvae, small crustaceans and other invertebrates. Feeds by sifting the substrate and expelling non-edible material through the gills.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Males occupy small, unmarked territories and display to passing females, but do not construct nests. Females brood approximately 50 eggs for about three weeks before releasing the fry. No post-release brood care has been observed. Rare cases of mouthbrooding males have been reported but are considered abnormal.
Aggression: Generally peaceful, both toward conspecifics and other species.
Special notes: One of the first deep-water Xenotilapia species to be imported in larger numbers for the aquarium hobby. Compared to several congeners, it is less shy and less sensitive, making it well suited for deep-water community aquaria with calm cichlids.

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Photo: © Joanna Adamska-Maslanka
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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