Popelin's chalinochromis
Chalinochromis popelini
Also known as Striped bridle cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.8–9.0
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika, southern basin
Overview
Popelin's chalinochromis is a slim, secretive rock cichlid from Lake Tanganyika, kept much like a Julidochromis. It is best with a little experience.
Did you know
Popelin's chalinochromis takes its genus name from horse tack. Chalinos is Greek for a bridle or halter, borrowed for the dark, harness-like lines that mark the fish's face.
Caring for the Popelin's chalinochromis
Give Popelin's chalinochromis at least 53 gal (200 L), built up with stacked rock and caves over a sand base. Leave winding gaps through the broken-up rockwork for it to patrol. It threads the crevices low in the tank.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Use strong filtration, and keep the water as clean and steady as the lake's. It grazes invertebrates and aufwuchs off the stone, so feed frozen and prepared foods with an invertebrate slant, plus a little green.
Keep a single fish or a bonded pair, which settles into one stack of stone for life. A pair grows strongly territorial around its chosen caves and drives off other fish that come too close. House it with robust rock-dwellers.
Popelin's chalinochromis is a cave-spawning biparental brooder, and breeding it takes moderate effort. A pair lays inside a cave and guards a run of broods. You often see fry of several sizes sharing the parents' territory.
Good to know
Chalinochromis popelini is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae. It is cream to golden, with a dark stripe running the length of its body. It also goes by the name striped bridle cichlid.
In the wild
Popelin's chalinochromis lives along rocky shores in the southern part of Lake Tanganyika. It darts in and out of crevices in the boulder zone.
Common questions
What size tank does a Popelin's chalinochromis need?
A Popelin's chalinochromis needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Popelin's chalinochromis need?
A Popelin's chalinochromis is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.
What does a Popelin's chalinochromis eat?
Popelin's chalinochromis eats frozen and prepared foods with an invertebrate slant, plus a little green. In the tank it grazes invertebrates and aufwuchs off the stone.
How big does a Popelin's chalinochromis get?
An adult Popelin's chalinochromis reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How does a Popelin's chalinochromis breed?
Popelin's chalinochromis is a cave spawner, and a pair lays inside a cave and guards a run of broods. Fry of several sizes often share the parents' territory, and breeding takes moderate effort.
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