SCIENTIFIC NAME: Spathodus Marlieri

COMMON NAME: Goby Cichlid

ORIGIN: Africa

FAMILY: Cichlidae

SPECIES TYPE: Spathodus

MAXIMUM SIZE: 3-3.5 Inches

LIFE SPAN: 8-12 Years

HABITAT: (Endemic) to Lake Tanganyika in rocky out croppings with sandy bottoms that have lots of caves and hiding places. Found in the northern part of the lake.

DIET: Accept flake and sticks but prefer brine shrimp, mysis, cyclops and will accept freeze dried food if soaked first. (known to eat small snails)

TEMP: 77-81 Degrees F.

PH: 7-9 Moderately alkaline medium hard water 12-15 dgh

TEMPERAMENT: Territorial, quarrelsome towards conspecifics.

TANK SIZE: Minimum 40 gallons

TANK REGION: Lower, mid tank

TANK MATES: Makes a great community fish with others of the same size. (julidochromis, lamprologus, Telmatochromis are good tank mates).

FILTRATION AND SETUP: Hob, mechanical and canister filters are great. Lots of rock work, caves, and small hiding places. Likes sandy to small gravel and wont hurt plants.

COLORATION: Has a greenish white body with blue hues to the fins and lips. Nice yellow ringed eyes, a beautiful fish. Older males get a small cranial hump.

BREEDING: Females lay there eggs on a angle rock or slate. She then takes the eggs in her mouth were the male fertilizes them. The Marlieri differs from the Erythrodon as only the female cares for the eggs and young. Fry are released in as little as 10-12 days after fertilization. The fry are cared for by the mother for another week.





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