Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Facebook
Cyprichromis microlepidotus 'Kigoma'.jpg Cyprichromis sp. 'dwarf jumbo' Kigoma.jpg Ectodus sp. 'north' Kigoma (North).jpg Enantiopus melanogenys 'Kigoma'.jpg Eretmodus cf. cyanostictus 'Kigoma'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageEctodus sp. 'north' Kigoma
Tribe / Genus: Ectodini / Ectodus
Biotope: Sandy habitats. Occurs at depths between 3 and 25 m.
Geographic distribution: Northern and central part of Lake Tanganyika, where it replaces Ectodus descampsii (Verne, 2001).
Typical adult size: Up to about 14 cm (males), females usually around 12 cm.
Recommended aquarium size: Minimum 150 L.
Aquarium setup: Fine sand substrate is essential. Rocks are not required.
Diet: Omnivorous. Feeds mainly on various invertebrates filtered from the sand.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. A polygamous lek-forming species; males construct saucer-shaped spawning sites in the sand and attract females for spawning.
Aggression: Relatively peaceful. Multiple males can be kept together.
Special notes: Ectodus sp. 'north' differs from Ectodus descampsii by a blue dorsal fin (instead of yellow), a shorter snout and lachrymal bone, a larger eye and a shallower body (Verne, 2001).

Sexual dimorphism is weak: mature males are slightly more colorful and show a broader dorsal blotch surrounded by more blue.

According to Verne (2001), the description of this species was in progress but is currently dormant. Northern populations are easy to distinguish from E. descampsii by body shape and coloration, although potential overlap or interbreeding zones remain unclear.

Photo gallery

Photo: © Evert van Ammelrooy
tanganyika.si
Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
All images are used with permission of the authors. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Quick links
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map Photo Credits
Contact
Email Facebook Instagram Support this site
© tanganyika.si