Marlier's julie
Julidochromis marlieri
Also known as Chequered julie
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 7.8–9.0
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika
Overview
Marlier's julie is a cave-dwelling cichlid from Lake Tanganyika for a rocky tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Caring for the Marlier's julie
Give Marlier's julies at least 29 gal (110 L), with dense, stacked rockwork that creates plenty of caves and tight gaps. They need that structure to feel secure and to breed. Mark out clear territory edges, since a pair defends its chosen cave hard.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. In the wild they feed on small invertebrates and biofilm. In the tank, offer quality cichlid pellets with frozen or live brine shrimp.
Marlier's julies form bonded pairs. They can be aggressive toward their own kind and fish of a similar shape, so plan tank mates carefully. Keep only tank mates that suit the same hard, alkaline water.
They are cave spawners, laying their eggs on the ceiling or wall of a crevice rather than brooding them in the mouth. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
Julidochromis marlieri is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae, with an elongated body. A grid of black-and-white markings breaks up its outline against the rock. Wild stocks are considered stable, with collection and habitat change as local pressures.
In the wild
Marlier's julie lives along the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika. It sticks close to caves and crevices several meters down.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Marlier's julie is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Cuckoo squeaker
Synodontis multipunctatus
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Black calvus
Altolamprologus calvus
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Even-Spotted squeaker
Synodontis petricola
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Blue neon cichlid
Paracyprichromis nigripinnis
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 48 gal (180 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Tanganyika killifish
Lamprichthys tanganicanus
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Marlier's julie need?
A Marlier's julie needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Marlier's julie need?
A Marlier's julie is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.
What does a Marlier's julie eat?
A Marlier's julie feeds on small invertebrates and biofilm in the wild. In the tank, give it quality cichlid pellets with frozen or live brine shrimp.
How big does a Marlier's julie get?
An adult Marlier's julie reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
How does a Marlier's julie breed?
Marlier's julies spawn in caves, laying their eggs on the ceiling or wall of a crevice. Breeding them is hard.
Related species
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)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Convict julie
Julidochromis regani
5.1 in (13 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
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)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Atripinnis hap
Copadichromis atripinnis
5.9 in (15 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)Azureus
Copadichromis azureus
5.9 in (15 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)