Tanganyika clown
Eretmodus cyanostictus
Also known as Clown goby cichlid, Striped goby cichlid, Horsehead cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.8–9.0
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Shallow, wave washed rocky surge zone of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.
Overview
The Tanganyika clown is a small cichlid that keeps to the bottom of a rocky Tanganyikan tank. It is a step up from beginner cichlids.
Did you know
Tanganyika clown parents physically pass the mouthful of eggs from one partner to the other. The mother hands the brood to the father partway through, a rare handoff among cichlids.
Caring for the Tanganyika clown
A bonded pair of Tanganyika clowns needs at least 29 gal (110 L), with a sandy bottom and smooth rocks. Give them strong, well-oxygenated water flow.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Feed algae-based foods with some frozen brine shrimp and cyclops.
Tanganyika clowns are mostly peaceful, but a settled pair defends its patch. Several can share a large tank, but mixing them in a small one can lead to fighting. Choose other tank mates with caution.
They are biparental mouthbrooders and form lifelong pair bonds. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
The Tanganyika clown, Eretmodus cyanostictus, is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae with a reduced swim bladder. Its goby-like shape and hopping movement are adaptations to living in crashing waves.
In the wild
The Tanganyika clown lives in the rough, wave-beaten shallows right at the edge of Lake Tanganyika. It hops along the bottom like a goby rather than swimming freely, and grazes algae from the rocks in the surge zone.
Common questions
What size tank does a Tanganyika clown need?
A Tanganyika clown needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Tanganyika clown need?
A Tanganyika clown is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.
What does a Tanganyika clown eat?
A Tanganyika clown eats algae-based foods, with some frozen brine shrimp and cyclops.
How big does a Tanganyika clown get?
An adult Tanganyika clown reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
How does a Tanganyika clown breed?
Tanganyika clowns are biparental mouthbrooders, so both partners hold the eggs. Pairs bond for life, and breeding them is hard.
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