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: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lake Tanganyika, southern basin
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

This is a slim, secretive rock cichlid from Lake Tanganyika, kept much like a Julidochromis: as a single fish or a bonded pair that settles into one stack of stone for life. A pair grows strongly territorial around its chosen caves and will drive off other fish that come too close, so keep it with robust rock-dwellers and give plenty of broken-up rockwork. It threads crevices low in the tank, grazing invertebrates and aufwuchs off the stone, so feed frozen and prepared foods with an invertebrate slant plus a little green. Allow at least 200 liters built up with piled rock and caves.

In the wild

It lives along rocky shores in the southern part of Lake Tanganyika, darting in and out of crevices in the boulder zone. Recreate that with a tank dominated by stacked rock and caves over a sand base, leaving winding gaps for it to patrol. Keep it hard and alkaline at around pH 7.8 to 9 and warm at about 24 to 27 C, with strong filtration and the clean, steady water the lake is known for.

Good to know

Chalinochromis popelini is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae, reaching about 12 centimeters, cream to golden with a dark lengthwise stripe. The genus name comes from a Greek word for a bridle, after the dark markings around the muzzle. It is a cave-spawning biparental brooder of moderate difficulty; a pair lays inside a cave and guards a run of broods, so you often see fry of several sizes sharing the parents' territory.

Did you know

Its genus name reads like tack for a horse: chalinos is Greek for a bridle or halter, borrowed for the dark harness-like lines that mark the fish's face.