TankBud

Dardenne's cichlid

Limnotilapia dardennii

Also known as Dardenne's limnotilapia

FreshwaterFish

Dardenne's cichlid (Limnotilapia dardennii)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.5–9.0
Adult size
10.2 in
26 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

Dardenne's cichlid is a big, characterful Tanganyikan cichlid for a very large tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

Many Tanganyikan cichlids are tied to one narrow niche, such as a single rock reef or patch of sand. Dardenne's cichlid is a true generalist instead, turning up across sand flats, rocky zones, weed beds and river mouths alike. It is one of the few big cichlids equally at home almost anywhere in the lake.

Caring for the Dardenne's cichlid

Keep a single Dardenne's cichlid or a pair, given how much space it needs, in at least 119 gal (450 L). Give it a big footprint with open swimming space, a sandy floor and some sturdy rock piles. It swims through the middle and lower water.

Keep the water very hard, alkaline and well filtered, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 9.0. Feed a greens-heavy diet with some small animal foods, or it will strip any soft plants in the tank.

It is boisterous and can be aggressive, so choose sturdy tank mates with care and give everyone room. Males grow larger than females. Like others in its tribe, it is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female carries the brood in her mouth. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Dardenne's cichlid, Limnotilapia dardennii, is a large Tanganyikan cichlid in the family Cichlidae. It grazes widely, mixing algae, phytoplankton and soft plants with worms and even the eggs of other fish. It is the least specialized member of its algae-browsing group.

In the wild

Dardenne's cichlid lives along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, where the water is very hard and alkaline. Young fish stay over shallow sand and mud, while adults move to deeper, rockier water.

Common questions

What size tank does a Dardenne's cichlid need?

A Dardenne's cichlid needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Dardenne's cichlid need?

A Dardenne's cichlid is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–9.0.

What does a Dardenne's cichlid eat?

Dardenne's cichlid eats a greens-heavy diet with some small animal foods. Without enough greens, it will strip any soft plants in the tank.

How big does a Dardenne's cichlid get?

An adult Dardenne's cichlid reaches about 10.2 in (26 cm).

How can you tell a male Dardenne's cichlid from a female?

Males of Dardenne's cichlid grow larger than females.

How does a Dardenne's cichlid breed?

Dardenne's cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female carries the brood in her mouth. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Related species