CICHLIDS OF LAKE TANGANYIKA.
Order Perciformes ( Perciformes )
Family Cichlidae ( Cichlidae )
Subfamily ( Pseudocrenilabrinae )
To be continued…
Genus Telmatochromis — Telmatochromis.
— Telmatochromis dhonti [Boulenger, 1919] — Telmatochromis dhonti. Synonym: Telmatochromis caninus; Julidochromis macrolepis. Lake Tanganyika, rocky biotopes. Male 10-12, female 5-7 cm. The main distinguishing features of the species are: • presence of a fatty hump on the forehead in males, especially older ones; • massive, high-bodied, slightly elongated body resembling that of T. temporalis; • strong, blunt-nosed head with a slightly superior mouth and oblique oral cavity; • multiple, small, sharp teeth clearly visible on the upper and lower jaws; • eyes small, round; • dorsal and anal fins have pointed ends, pelvic fins are elongated.
Body coloration can vary from brown (even dark) to beige-brown, and the scale edges are always outlined with a dark color, creating a reticulated pattern on the flanks. The forehead and the area between the eyes are decorated with thin, vermicular lines, with a ruby “earring” behind the eye.
Adult males have a growth on the forehead. Males are colored in various shades of gray and brown. Back with a blackish marbled pattern. A narrow, red-brown stripe runs from the eye to the upper edge of the gill cover and ends in a spot. Unpaired fins are gray-blue to green-gray with small white dots. Dorsal fin with an orange border in front and a bluish border behind.
Dorsal and anal fins have elongated ends, caudal fin is rounded. Large white canines are clearly visible on their jaws. Mature males remotely resemble the lionhead cichlid (Steatocranus casuarius). The female is smaller, fuller, and more pale-colored.
In aquariums, they are very aggressive both to conspecifics and to representatives of other species. A pair occupies a territory of about 50 cm. Breeders form families after a year. Excess individuals are either chased away or killed. Fins torn in fights regenerate quite quickly. Bruises on the body are worse, most often turning into extensive necroses. Gets along well with active, similarly sized fishes. The male keeps a harem of 3-4 females, spawning with them alternately, with the eggs always remaining in the female’s nest.
These fish do not damage plants. Since these fish are carnivorous, the share of animal protein in their diet should be at least 50%, and dry commercial feeds perform only an auxiliary, temporary function. They mature in 10 months. Females lay eggs in caves with a single exit or large shells. Parents actively guard eggs and fry, fiercely attacking any objects moving near the nest. Juveniles grow slowly and stay near the parental shell for a long time. They live up to 7 years. T 26-28°C; pH 8.2-9.2.
— Telmatochromis vittatus [Boulenger, 1898] — Blunt Headed Telmat. 8-10 cm, female smaller. The main distinguishing features of the species are: • elongated body with a cylindrical cross-section; blunt-nosed, short head with a very small, straight mouth; • caudal fin relatively large, rounded, partially notched; • body and fin coloration is light beige, darker towards the back.
Two longitudinal, narrow lines of dark brown or black-brown color run along the body: the upper line begins in the forehead, extends along the base of the dorsal fin, and ends with the end of the latter; the lower, median line originates from the upper lip of the mouth, runs along the axis, and usually ends with a dark spot at the base of the caudal peduncle. The median stripe is intersected along its entire length by dark, short strokes, forming a cross-shaped or diamond-shaped pattern at the base of the caudal peduncle. A dark vertical stripe at the base of the pectoral fins.
T. bifrenatus and T. vittatus are often confused with each other. And it is very easy to distinguish them: representatives of the first species are not only decorated with a dark longitudinal stripe running along the brownish-beige background of the flanks (it is impossible not to notice it!), but are also covered with a pattern of thin oblique or zigzag lines. Vittatus are higher-bodied compared to brichardi and bifrenatus, they have a larger and less pointed head. Color morph: — T. vittatus “Chituta” – one black stripe on the body and one running along the base of the dorsal fin. Black-blue border on unpaired fins.
The aquarium must be equipped with piles of sandstone “rocks”, shelters such as caves or crevices between stones, and small upside-down pots with holes can be placed. It usually hides in a crevice between stones, and most of the day passes this way. Fine sand is best placed on the bottom of the aquarium. Can be kept with other non-aggressive medium and large cichlids of Lake Tanganyika (however, keeping them in a common volume with representatives of the genus Chalinochromis and large Julidochromis species, which may chase Telmatochromis due to similar coloration, should be avoided).
Displays quite strong intraspecific aggression. Despite their miniature size, they fiercely defend their own territory, fearlessly engaging in combat with aggressors whose length even exceeds their own. These fish do not damage plants, and thickets serve as protection for juveniles or subdominant specimens. Artemia, cyclops, daphnia, corethra, and other live or frozen foods are suitable as food for these fish. But a certain percentage of plant food in the diet will be useful. For the spawning period, they form pairs, spawning takes place in shelters. Eggs are deposited on a substrate, usually the inner surface of a rock or stone. The female usually guards the eggs, while the male defends the territory. T 24-27°C; dH 10-20°; pH 8-9.
Identification: Genus Telmatochromis — Telmatochromis dhonti, vittatus.
