LAKE TANGANYIKA CICHLIDS.
Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae
Continued…
Genus Xenotilapia.
— Xenotilapia melanogenys [Boulenger, 1898] — Black Chinned Xenotilapia. Synonym: Ectodus longianalis, melanogenys, Enantiopus longianalis, melanogenys. Found in the southern part of Lake Tanganyika. 16 cm, females slightly smaller. The species name comes from the “black chin” and throat, the coloration of the lower gill covers, which appears in males during the spawning period.
The body is silver with beige, yellow, blue, and green patterns. The dorsal fin consists of oblique yellow stripes and at least two pairs of black spots, one of which is located in the anterior, spiny-rayed region of the fin, and the other in the posterior, soft-rayed region.
Dominant males are very brightly colored. The dorsal and anal fins are decorated with blue-yellow patterns and dark spots, while the forehead and back glow with emerald, and the tail is seemingly “cut” by a yellow-orange “labyrinth”. The male’s throat darkens, and by inflating his “throat pouch”, he begins to look like a displaying grouse. During spawning, his body consists of shades of blue and purple, with a little pink on the upper body, and the lower part is bright white metal.
The fins are black, dorsal with a yellow border. The anal fin serves as a kind of position stabilizer when the fish seemingly settles on the substrate. Outside the breeding season, both sexes are colored in silver or sandy tones, making it harder for predators to hunt them.
Currently, several geographical variants of this species are known. The differences are mainly in the general coloration of sexually active males, which have a more or less bluish, greenish, or violet tint on the body. The number and size of black spots on the dorsal fin can also vary. Males of Xenotilapia sp. ‘Kilesa’ are even more brightly colored, their throat is bright yellow, and the coloration of the back and forehead is even more colorful. The main distinguishing feature is the yellow gill covers and lips of the males. The color intensity depends on the mood of the animals. It differs from the related species not only by a shorter lower jaw, but also by sand turrets that the fish build up to 8 around the flat spawning pit.
Fish are schooling and very peaceful, so they can be kept with almost all Lake Tanganyika cichlids, except for large and pugnacious species that can inflict injuries or simply eat them. You should keep at least 6-8 individuals, and to get maximum coloration, there should be 2 males. The male establishes a territory to defend. A large bottom area is important for keeping them.
Keep them on a large aquarium bottom area covered with fine light sand, combined with dark rocky masses in the background and a large group of Vallisneria in one corner to provide spawning females with shelter. For the fish to build a nest, the sand layer must be at least 5 cm thick. River sand must be fine, without sharp edges that could injure the fish while foraging.
Maintenance in the aquarium must be done with caution. These fish are quite timid and may panic, jump out, or injure themselves by crashing into glass or rocks. Each water change is accompanied by the males’ courtship dance. They lie on their sides and inflate their gills, highlighting their fins, which are held tightly against the body. Fish pick up their food from the upper layers of sand, sifting the sand in search of small crustaceans and invertebrates.
Of course, fish can be fed only dry foods, however, we are dealing with predators that need brine shrimp, cyclops, daphnia, and other types of live food. Food must be fed so that it does not become the property of the Xenotilapia’s aquarium neighbors only. They love bright light. Fish are very sensitive to the content of harmful substances in the water; it is necessary to strictly observe the schedules for large water changes.
The bottom area needed by males during spawning must be quite large. Fish mature in the first year of life. In very fine sand, males build several small, regularly shaped craters up to 15 cm in diameter and occupy separate territories during spawning. Only females carry eggs in their mouths and raise offspring. Young grow quickly; after four months, the fish reach a size of about 6 cm. Lifespan is about 3 years. T 24-27°C; pH 7.5-9.0; dH 10-15°.
— Xenotilapia nasus [Risch & Audenaerde, 1995] — Xenotilapia nasus. The species got its name for the characteristic nose-like growth on the snout. A nose-like growth on the upper lip. 7-8 soft rays in the dorsal fin. Lobes of the caudal fin are pointed. Transport of these cichlids does not always go easily. The fish must be carefully caught and spent a minimum amount of time in the net. If you damaged any of the fish during catching, treatment with a fungicide can be advised as a prevention. Schooling lifestyle is an important factor in the survival strategy of this species. Temperature 25-27°C; pH 7.8-8.5; dH 10-20°.
— Xenotilapia nigrolabiata [Poll, 1951] — Xenotilapia nigrolabiata. Size up to 13 cm. The species name came from a specific feature of its representatives — a black upper lip. Eyes are very large. Both males and females have the same coloration.
Representatives of this cichlid species have a very delicate coloration, characterized by a red horizontal oval stripe surrounded by white on the dorsal fin, the body is colored in silver-blue tones. Sometimes red spots can be on the anal and caudal fins. During courtship games, males of this species are characterized by a black coloration of the upper lip, and the dorsal and anal fins are more yellow-orange.
Color morphs: — X. nigrolabiata “Red princess” – males have a red spot (horizontal stripe) on the dorsal fin, as well as a wide yellow-orange border on the dorsal and anal fins. In addition, males have yellow, orange, and blue shades in the pattern of the anal and caudal fins.
The species is non-territorial, peaceful, sometimes extremely receptive fish that should categorically not be kept with aggressive neighbors. The best neighbors are top-dwelling fish. They do not bother fish of other species. The aquarium should have a wide bottom of fine or medium dark river sand without sharp edges, not too light in shade, with a layer of 2-3 cm.
Buries its head in the sand while foraging and then filters through the gills, separating edible fragments from inedible ones. Open sandy areas and several large stones marking territory boundaries and creating shelters. Lighting should preferably be weak, diffused. Fish do not damage plants.
This species is best kept in a small group of approximately 6 fish. Such a group is enough to form harmonious pairs. Very sensitive to water degradation, and regular water changes are essential for good health. This small, agile cichlid easily coexists with other Lake Tanganyika cichlids.
Keeping them together with shell-dwellers can lead to problems, as during the fry-rearing period they attack anyone approaching their shells. Males dig small spawning pits, but do not build nests. The female takes care of the fry. Young grow fast. T 23-27°C; pH 8.0-9.5; dH 8-25°.
— Xenotilapia ochrogenys [Boulenger, 1914] — Xenotilapia ochrogenys. Synonym: Enantiopus ochrogenys. 10-12 cm, females smaller. The yellow chin present in males caused the name of this species. The body is extremely elongated. The head profile rises steeply to the base of the dorsal fin. Eyes are relatively large, placed high on the head. Belongs to the category of sand-dwelling, bottom cichlids.
Body coloration is silvery-beige with a yellow tint, with black-blue spots. The rear edge of the pelvic fins is elongated. Males are unusually richly colored and have longer first rays in the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. Similar to X. singularis, but unlike X. ochrogenys, the body is more elongated, with rows of dots that X. singularis lacks.
Color morphs: — X. ochrogenys “Black Dorsal” – spots on the dorsal fin of this morph are not yellow, but black; — X. ochrogenys “Namansi” – have a narrowed body, rounded head with a steep snout profile and 3-5 distinct black spots on the flanks; — X. ochrogenys “Ndole” – differ from ordinary X. ochrogenys by the presence of 3-5 dark spots on the flank running along the central line from the middle of the body towards the caudal fin. The dorsal fin is patterned with yellow spots. The lower body from the gill covers to the anal fin acquires an orange tint during spawning;
The aquarium should have a bottom of fine or medium river sand, not too light in shade. It is desirable to have open sandy areas and several large stones marking territory boundaries in the tank. Peaceful towards other fish species, but at the time of spawning or preparation for it, males become irritable and chase all neighbors from their territory, though without inflicting injuries. They may jump out during aquarium maintenance, be careful.
When keeping fish in aquariums with a small bottom area, males can annoy females and heavily harass other males. In sufficient volume, this species is best kept in a small group of approximately 6-7 fish. This small cichlid easily coexists with other Lake Tanganyika cichlids. Intraspecific aggression is more of a ritual than real fights. Fish do not damage plants.
In aquarium conditions, it is undemanding to food and eats all types of live and dry foods. These animals do not form pairs. The male builds small sand pits. Around the spawning site, the male usually builds several more castles. Females take care of the offspring alone, incubating eggs in their mouths.
Xenotilapia ornatipinnis, Xenotilapia papilio.
Xenotilapia flavipinnis, leptura, longispinis. 
