Tanganyika clown

Care at a glance

Overview

A bonded pair needs a tank of at least 110 liters with a sandy bottom, smooth rocks and strong, well oxygenated water flow. Keep it hard and alkaline at 24 to 27 C, pH 7.8 to 9.0. It is peaceful but a settled pair defends its patch, and mixing several can lead to fighting unless the tank is large. Feed algae based foods with some frozen brine shrimp and cyclops.

In the wild

The Tanganyika clown lives in the rough, wave beaten shallows right at the edge of Lake Tanganyika. It has a reduced swim bladder and hops along the bottom like a goby rather than swimming freely. It grazes algae from the rocks in the surge zone.

Good to know

Eretmodus cyanostictus is a biparental mouthbrooder, and the pair takes turns holding the eggs, passing the brood from mother to father partway through. It forms lifelong pair bonds. Its goby like shape and hopping movement are adaptations to living in crashing waves.

Did you know

The parents share brooding duty, physically passing the mouthful of eggs from one partner to the other, a rare handoff among cichlids.

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