Burton's mouthbrooder
Astatotilapia burtoni
Also known as Burton's haplochromis, Haplochromis burtoni, Burtoni
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.6
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Easy
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika and the rivers and streams that feed it in East Africa.
Overview
Burton's mouthbrooder is an adaptable, colorful cichlid for a tank of one male and several females. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
Scientists have shown that a top male Burton's mouthbrooder who loses his territory changes fast. His colors fade, and his body chemistry shifts within minutes. It is one of the clearest examples of behavior changing biology.
Caring for the Burton's mouthbrooder
Keep one male Burton's mouthbrooder with several females in at least 53 gal (200 L). Furnish the tank with sand, some rock and hardy plants. It swims mostly in the middle of the tank.
It is flexible about water, but keep it alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 7.5 to 8.6. Feed flake, pellets and frozen foods, since it eats almost anything.
Males are aggressive when breeding, so keep enough females to spread their attention, and give the fish cover. Choose any other tank mates with caution.
Males wear a colorful mix of blue, yellow and red, with egg-shaped spots on the anal fin. Dominant males color up and hold territory, while subordinate males fade and look like females. The fish brood their eggs in the mouth, and the anal fin spots play a role in courtship. Breeding it is easy.
Good to know
Burton's mouthbrooder, Astatotilapia burtoni, is a member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae. It is a major laboratory model for studying how social rank changes fish behavior, brain and hormones.
In the wild
Burton's mouthbrooder lives in Lake Tanganyika and in the shallow rivers and marshes around it. It is found over sand and among plants near the shore.
Common questions
What size tank does a Burton's mouthbrooder need?
A Burton's mouthbrooder needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Burton's mouthbrooder need?
A Burton's mouthbrooder is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.6.
What does a Burton's mouthbrooder eat?
A Burton's mouthbrooder eats almost anything. Feed it flake, pellets and frozen foods.
How big does a Burton's mouthbrooder get?
An adult Burton's mouthbrooder reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
How can you tell a male Burton's mouthbrooder from a female?
Males show blue, yellow and red, with egg-shaped spots on the anal fin. Subordinate males fade, though, and can look much like females.
How does a Burton's mouthbrooder breed?
Burton's mouthbrooders brood their eggs in the mouth. The spots on the male's anal fin play a part in courtship, and breeding is easy.
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