TankBud

Black calvus

Altolamprologus calvus

Also known as Calvus, White calvus

FreshwaterFish

Black calvus (Altolamprologus calvus)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.5–9.0
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika (endemic)

Overview

The black calvus is a mostly peaceful but predatory rock cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The black calvus has a flat, narrow body built for getting into spaces other fish cannot reach. It turns sideways to slide into rock cracks after eggs and fry. Its heavy, armored scales give it some protection while it does.

Caring for the black calvus

Keep a pair or a small colony of black calvus in at least 53 gal (200 L). Stack plenty of rock into caves and ledges, so each fish can claim a cave and has places to hide and ambush from. Use coral sand or aragonite as the substrate to help keep the pH high.

Run the water very hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 9.0. Hold that chemistry steady. Feed meaty foods such as frozen mysis and brine shrimp, plus small pellets.

Black calvus are mostly peaceful toward fish their own size, and they stay near the bottom, working the rockwork. They are predators, though, and will eat anything small enough to swallow. Keep only tank mates too large to become a meal.

Calvus are cave spawners. The female lays her eggs inside a tight crevice or shell and guards them in a space too small for the male to enter. Breeding them is moderately difficult. If you keep more than one color morph, house them separately, since they will hybridize given the chance.

Good to know

The black calvus is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Calvus are slow growing and long lived, so expect to keep one for many years. Most fish in the trade are tank bred.

In the wild

The black calvus is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it lives along rocky shorelines. In the wild it picks off eggs, fry and small fish.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The black calvus 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 black calvus need?

A black calvus needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a black calvus need?

A black calvus is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–9.0.

What does a black calvus eat?

A black calvus eats meaty foods such as frozen mysis and brine shrimp, plus small pellets. It is a predator and will eat any tank mate small enough to swallow.

How big does a black calvus get?

An adult black calvus reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

How does a black calvus breed?

Black calvus are cave spawners. The female lays her eggs in a tight crevice or shell and guards them where the male cannot fit. Breeding them is moderately difficult.

Related species