Convict julie

Care at a glance

Overview

A pair needs a rocky tank of at least 110 liters with caves and passages for shelter and spawning. Keep the water hard and alkaline at 24 to 27 C, pH 7.8 to 9.0. They are calm with unrelated tankmates but territorial near the nest, and only one julie species should share a tank to avoid hybrids. Feed frozen and dry foods including brine shrimp, mysis and quality pellets.

In the wild

The convict julie is the largest and most elongated of the common julies. It patrols rocky slopes in Lake Tanganyika, weaving along the stone in a horizontal, stretched out posture. Its cream body carries several dark horizontal stripes.

Good to know

Like its relatives, Julidochromis regani lays eggs inside rock caves and both parents tend the brood. Different shoreline populations vary in base color from pale to golden. The genus name and the julie nickname both come from this group of striped Tanganyikan cave spawners.

Did you know

Julies swim as comfortably upside down along a cave roof as they do right side up, following the rock rather than the open water.

Related species

• 

  Masked julie

  Julidochromis transcriptus

  2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Marlier's julie

  Julidochromis marlieri

  5.9 in (15 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Brown Julie

  Julidochromis dickfeldi

  4.3 in (11 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Golden Julie

  Julidochromis ornatus

  3.1 in (8 cm)18 gal (70 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Black calvus

  Altolamprologus calvus

  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)75–81°F (24–27°C)