Convict julie
Julidochromis regani
Also known as Regan's julie, Striped julie
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.8–9.0
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Easy
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Rocky shorelines around the edges of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.
Overview
The convict julie is a mostly peaceful Lake Tanganyika cichlid that lives low among the rocks. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The convict julie, like other julies, swims as comfortably upside down along a cave roof as it does right side up. It follows the rock rather than the open water.
Caring for the convict julie
Give a pair of convict julies a rocky tank of at least 29 gal (110 L). Build in caves and passages, which they use for shelter and spawning.
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 frozen and dry foods, such as brine shrimp, mysis and quality pellets.
Convict julies are calm with unrelated tank mates but territorial near the nest, so choose companions with caution. They are fine in groups of their own kind. Keep only one julie species per tank to avoid hybrids.
They lay their eggs inside rock caves, and both parents tend the brood. Breeding them is easy.
Good to know
The convict julie, Julidochromis regani, is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae and the largest and most elongated of the common julies. Its cream body carries several dark horizontal stripes. Different shoreline populations vary in base color from pale to golden. Its genus, Julidochromis, is a group of striped cave spawners from Lake Tanganyika, and the julie nickname comes from that name.
In the wild
The convict julie lives on rocky shorelines around the edges of Lake Tanganyika, in East Africa. It patrols the rocky slopes, weaving along the stone in a horizontal, stretched-out posture.
Common questions
What size tank does a convict julie need?
A convict julie needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a convict julie need?
A convict julie is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.
What does a convict julie eat?
A convict julie takes both frozen and dry foods, including brine shrimp, mysis and quality pellets.
How big does a convict julie get?
An adult convict julie reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
How does a convict julie breed?
Convict julies spawn inside rock caves, and both parents look after the brood. Breeding them is easy.
Related species
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Masked julie
Julidochromis transcriptus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Marlier's julie
Julidochromis marlieri
5.9 in (15 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Brown julie
Julidochromis dickfeldi
4.3 in (11 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)18 gal (70 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Golden julie
Julidochromis ornatus
3.1 in (8 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Black calvus
Altolamprologus calvus
5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Compressiceps
Altolamprologus compressiceps
5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)