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: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lake Tanganyika
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

Dardenne's cichlid is a big, characterful Tanganyikan mouthbrooder, kept as a single fish or a pair given how much space it needs. It reaches around 26 centimeters and swims through the middle and lower water, grazing algae and plants and taking small animal foods, so feed a greens-heavy diet or it will strip any soft plants in the tank. It is boisterous and can be aggressive, so choose sturdy tankmates with care and give everyone room. Plan on a large tank of at least 450 liters with open swimming space, some rock, and hard, alkaline water.

In the wild

Limnotilapia dardennii lives along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, with young fish over shallow sand and mud and adults moving to deeper, rockier water. It is one of the least fussy of the lake's grazers, at home across sand, rock, and weedy zones. Tanganyika is very hard and alkaline, so keep the pH between 7.5 and 9 and the temperature around 24 to 27 C. Give it a big footprint with a sandy floor, some sturdy rock piles, and clean, well-filtered water.

Good to know

Limnotilapia dardennii is a large Tanganyikan cichlid in the family Cichlidae, with males reaching about 26 centimeters and females staying smaller. It is a generalist grazer, mixing algae, phytoplankton, and soft plants with worms and even the eggs of other fish, the least specialized member of its algae-browsing group. Like others in its tribe it is a maternal mouthbrooder, the female carrying the brood in her mouth.

Did you know

Where many Tanganyikan cichlids are tied to one narrow niche, a single rock reef or patch of sand, this fish is a true generalist. It turns up across sand flats, rocky zones, weed beds, and river mouths alike, one of the few big cichlids equally at home almost anywhere in the lake.