SCIENTIFIC NAME: Paratilapia leptsoma, Limnochromis leptsoma

COMMON NAME: Slender Cichlid, Sardine Cichlid

ORIGIN: Africa, Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, especially areas around Kigoma and the southern part of the lake.

FAMILY: Cichlidae.

SPECIES TYPE: Cyprichromis jumbo, tri-color

MAXIMUM SIZE: Up to 6 inches.

LIFE SPAN: 6-8 Years is typical.

HABITAT: Open water free swimmers

DIET: In the wild they eat zooplankton and small crustaceans. In the aquarium they will take live foods such as cyclops, daphnia, brine shrimp and flake food.

TEMP: 73-77 Degrees (breeding works better in the higher range temps 76-77).

PH: 7.8 to 8.5 slightly alkaline medium hard to hard water 18-30dgh.

TEMPERAMENT: Extremely peaceful fish esp. for a Cichlid.

TANK SIZE: Minimum tank size is a 4 foot long tank (6 to 8 foot long is better for this fish since this is a open water fish which schools).

TANK REGION: Middle to upper tank area.

TANK MATES: Can be kept with almost all other Lake Tanganyika fish of similar size since it uses the upper portion of the tank above the rock work.

FILTRATION AND SETUP: HOB, mechanical and canister filters will work great. These fish are very hardy and can handle current or no current. The substrate is not a concern since they are a open water schooling fish.

COLORATION: Clear sexual dimorphism and dichromatism. Males have a silverish brown color to the main body with a yellow tail and head. The caudal fin and anal fin are blue with a white stripe outlining them both. The females are a drab silverish brown color all over the entire body.

BREEDING: Spawning and courtship take place just below the surface. They are free spawners and after each egg has been laid the female quickly turns and retrieves the egg in her mouth were it is then fertilized. The eggs hatch in 3 weeks and development can be seen through there nearly transparent larygeal sac. After fry are released they stay close to the surface. The mother then ignores the fry neither caring for them or hunting them.


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