Tanganyika clown - Eretmodus cyanostictus

Scientific name: Eretmodus cyanostictus

Common name: Tanganyika clown

Family: Cichlidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 8 - 9 cm (3.15 - 3.54 inch)

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Recommended pH range for the species: 7.6 - 8.9

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 14 - 23°N (250 - 410.71ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 24 - 27 °C (75.2 - 80.6°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: Africa

Temperament to its own species: aggressive/territorial

Temperament toward other fish species: peaceful

Usual place in the tank: Middle levels

Food and feeding

Tanganyika clowns require a high vegetable matter diet. Supply them with spirulina flake and algae wafers. To vary this give them treats of live or frozen foods , try to avoid giving them brine shrimp as feeding these can give the fish digestive problems.

Origin

Africa; Tanganyika clowns are endemic to Lake Tanganyika.

Sexing

Males will display a brighter colouration and be larger than the females.

Breeding

Tanganyika clowns are bi-parental brooders. Both parents will take their turns in incubating the eggs and holding the fry. The female will turn quickly to collect the eggs after she has laid them and then the male will fertilise them. The male will normally take over the incubation after two weeks of the female holding them and then she will be ready to breed again.

Lifespan

The expected life span of Eretmodus cyanostictus is 5-8 years.

Short description

Eretmodus cyanostictus occupies the higher water levels of Lake Malawi and will wedge itself in the rocks while grazing algae. In the aquarium add plenty of rockwork and use sand for the substrate; it is believed that some grains of sand kept in their stomach aids their digestion.

Picture

Bought by aqua-fish.net from jjphoto.dk.