Zebra obliquidens
Astatotilapia latifasciata
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.0
- Adult size
- 4.9 in
- 12.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 30 gal
- 115 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Kyoga, Lake Nawampas
Overview
This is an aggressive cichlid, especially around breeding, and is best kept singly or in a harem of one male with several females rather than as a tight group. It swims in the middle of the tank. Feed quality cichlid pellets with live or frozen extras like brine shrimp and bloodworms. House it with other sturdy fish that can stand up to it, and give plenty of broken sightlines to spread out the aggression.
In the wild
This cichlid lives in the shallow waters of Lake Kyoga and Lake Nawampasa in Uganda, over mixed sand and rock, using the rocks for cover and open areas to forage. Give it hard, alkaline water around pH 7 to 8 and a temperature in the low to high 20s C. A 115 liter tank or larger with rockwork for hiding spots and clear swimming lanes works well.
Good to know
Astatotilapia latifasciata is in the family Cichlidae and grows to about 12.5 cm, with bold vertical black bars, strongest on the males. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, the female carrying eggs and fry in her mouth. It is considered critically endangered in the wild, hit hard by habitat loss and introduced species, and many aquarium fish help keep the species going.
Did you know
It is sometimes used as a stand-in study species for the famous Lake Victoria cichlids, since it is hardy and breeds easily in captivity while many of its close relatives are endangered or already gone from the wild.
Common questions
What size tank does a Zebra obliquidens need?
A Zebra obliquidens needs at least 30 gal (115 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Zebra obliquidens need?
A Zebra obliquidens is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
How big does a Zebra obliquidens get?
An adult Zebra obliquidens reaches about 4.9 in (12.5 cm).
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