Alluaud's Haplochromine (Astatoreochromis alluaudi) Care Guide
Astatoreochromis alluaudi is an East African cichlid with crushing pharyngeal jaws specialised on snails, a mouthbrooder reaching about 19 cm.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Astatoreochromis alluaudi is an East African cichlid known for its thick pharyngeal jaws, which are adapted to crush snail shells. It reaches about 19 cm in standard length. The species shows documented plasticity in its lower pharyngeal jaw, developing different phenotypes according to diet, and is used in the hobby for biological snail control.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Astatoreochromis
- Scientific name: Astatoreochromis alluaudi
Habitat
According to FishBase and Wikipedia, the species occurs in lakes including Edward, George, Kyoga and Victoria and associated waters, and has been introduced widely in East Africa across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It inhabits shallow waters and papyrus swamps, generally less than 20 m deep.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
Diet
FishBase reports that the species feeds mainly on molluscs but may be an opportunistic omnivore that switches to the most abundant food source. In the aquarium it accepts snails, frozen invertebrates and quality prepared foods, fed twice daily.
Compatibility
This is a semi-aggressive, bottom-oriented cichlid suited to hard, alkaline water alongside other Victorian haplochromines, Astatotilapia and Synodontis. It should not be kept with soft-water fish such as discus, Apistogramma and other dwarf cichlids, nor with Rift Lake mbuna of differing temperament.
Breeding
Astatoreochromis alluaudi is a mouthbrooder. FishBase notes that breeding likely occurs around November to December.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 17 February 2021).
Breeding Astatoreochromis alluaudi (Alluaud's Haplochromine)
Overview
Astatoreochromis alluaudi is an East African cichlid found in the Lake Victoria region, including lakes Edward, George, Kyoga, Victoria, Nakavali and Kachira and their associated rivers and streams, including the Semliki (FishBase). Its range spans Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Wikipedia). It reaches about 19 cm SL and is notable for a thick jaw adapted to crush snail shells; in the wild snails make up a significant part of its diet, and it is omnivorous and used to control snails (FishBase, Wikipedia). It is a maternal mouthbrooder.
Conditioning
FishBase records 24-28 °C, pH 7.5-8.5 and a minimum hardness around 15 dH, reflecting the alkaline conditions of its native lakes; the species occurs in waters less than 20 m deep and in papyrus swamps. A diet that includes hard-shelled foods such as snails suits its specialised pharyngeal dentition; FishBase notes it may switch food sources based on availability. A varied diet supports breeding condition.
Breeding Setup
Provide hard, alkaline water within the documented range and an open substrate where the female can spawn. As a mouthbrooder, the female does not require a cave; structure for line-of-sight breaks helps reduce harassment between fish.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The species is a mouthbrooder in which the female provides brooding care (FishBase). FishBase notes that the species may reproduce at the end of the short rains, around November to December, though its breeding period is not well documented.
Egg & Fry Care
Following the maternal mouthbrooding pattern, the female incubates the eggs and larvae in her mouth before releasing free-swimming fry. Released fry take fine first foods. A separate rearing space helps protect fry in a community of larger haplochromines.
Common Challenges
Maintaining hard, alkaline water is important for this rift-region species. Its semi-aggressive temperament and bottom-dwelling habits mean tankmates should be chosen to avoid excessive competition; the documented breeding period being poorly described means spawning may be irregular in captivity.