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Yellow-cheek xenotilapia

Xenotilapia ochrogenys

Also known as Ochrogenys sand cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Yellow-cheek xenotilapia (Xenotilapia ochrogenys)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The yellow-cheek xenotilapia is a sand-dwelling Tanganyikan cichlid that stays on the bottom, sifting fine sand for small invertebrates. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The yellow-cheek xenotilapia belongs to a genus that is unusual for the range of parental-care styles its species show.

Caring for the yellow-cheek xenotilapia

Give a colony of yellow-cheek xenotilapias at least 79 gal (300 L), with a large, open floor of deep, fine sand. Keep only a little rock at the edges, so the school has room to move and males have room to display.

Keep the water very hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Keep it extremely clean, since stable water chemistry and low waste are essential for these sensitive sand cichlids.

Feed small foods such as frozen cyclops, brine shrimp and finely crushed pellets. Never overfeed, since this group bloats easily.

Keep them as a group, ideally six or more, since lone fish and pairs do poorly. They are peaceful, and there is no limit on how many you can keep together. They are delicate, so give them calm tank mates and avoid boisterous or aggressive fish.

Displaying males flush gold, violet and black across the body. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and females carry the eggs and fry in the mouth while males display over the open sand. Breeding is hard and needs a settled group and very stable water.

Good to know

Xenotilapia ochrogenys is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, named for a single yellow cheek. At rest it is sand-pale and almost invisible on bare sand.

In the wild

The yellow-cheek xenotilapia schools over shallow, sandy bays in Lake Tanganyika, one of the hardest and most alkaline lakes on Earth.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The yellow-cheek xenotilapia is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a yellow-cheek xenotilapia need?

A yellow-cheek xenotilapia needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a yellow-cheek xenotilapia need?

A yellow-cheek xenotilapia is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.

What does a yellow-cheek xenotilapia eat?

A yellow-cheek xenotilapia eats small foods such as frozen cyclops, brine shrimp and finely crushed pellets. Never overfeed it, since this group bloats easily.

How big does a yellow-cheek xenotilapia get?

An adult yellow-cheek xenotilapia reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

Does a yellow-cheek xenotilapia need a group?

Yes. A yellow-cheek xenotilapia is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male yellow-cheek xenotilapia from a female?

Males flush gold, violet and black across the body when they display over the open sand.

How does a yellow-cheek xenotilapia breed?

A yellow-cheek xenotilapia is a maternal mouthbrooder. Females carry the eggs and fry in the mouth, and breeding is hard, needing a settled group and very stable water.

Related species