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Bigeye callochromis

Callochromis macrops

Also known as Red callochromis, Bigeye sand sifter

FreshwaterFish

Bigeye callochromis (Callochromis macrops)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
5.3 in
13.5 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The bigeye callochromis is a peaceful, sand-sifting cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. It needs an open sand floor and is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The bigeye callochromis reads the open sand with its oversized eyes, watching for the smallest movement of a buried invertebrate. Then it takes a mouthful to sift. Those big eyes also help it spot approaching predators.

Caring for the bigeye callochromis

Give a bigeye callochromis at least 79 gal (300 L), with an open bed of deep, soft, fine sand. It sifts sand through its gills, and coarse gravel can injure it. Set any rock at the edges so the open floor stays clear.

It needs clean, stable water that is hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Feed small foods often, such as fine sinking pellets, frozen cyclops and brine shrimp.

It is peaceful toward other species, but males are very intolerant of rival males. Keep a single male with a group of females as a harem, and give a large footprint if you want more than one male. It will not put up with rough tank mates, so keep it only with other calm, sand-dwelling Tanganyikans.

It is a mouthbrooder, and the male builds a sand crater to court females. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

The bigeye callochromis is a member of the cichlid family, and its name macrops means large-eyed. Displaying males of the red forms glow with rose and copper tones.

In the wild

The bigeye callochromis lives over shallow sand flats in Lake Tanganyika. It cruises the open floor there in search of buried food.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The bigeye callochromis is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a bigeye callochromis need?

A bigeye callochromis needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a bigeye callochromis need?

A bigeye callochromis is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.

What does a bigeye callochromis eat?

A bigeye callochromis eats frequent small meals of fine sinking pellets, frozen cyclops and brine shrimp.

How big does a bigeye callochromis get?

An adult bigeye callochromis reaches about 5.3 in (13.5 cm).

How does a bigeye callochromis breed?

The bigeye callochromis is a mouthbrooder. The male builds a sand crater to court females, and breeding it is hard.

Related species