Astatotilapia latifasciata Care Guide
Astatotilapia latifasciata is a hardy mouthbrooding cichlid endemic to Uganda's Lake Kyoga system, widely traded as "zebra obliquidens".
Overview
Astatotilapia latifasciata is a haplochromine cichlid described by Regan in 1929. It is endemic to Uganda's Lake Kyoga system, including Lake Bisina and Lake Nawampasa, not the main Lake Victoria. In the aquarium trade it is frequently sold as Haplochromis "zebra obliquidens", which causes confusion with the distinct Haplochromis obliquidens. It is easily bred in captivity.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Astatotilapia
- Scientific name: Astatotilapia latifasciata
- Author: Regan, 1929
- Synonym: Haplochromis latifasciatus; trade "zebra obliquidens"
Habitat
FishBase and Wikipedia restrict it to the Lake Kyoga system in Uganda (Lakes Kyoga, Bisina and Nawampasa). It is a freshwater, benthopelagic fish of warm, alkaline waters typical of the region.
Tank requirements
- Maximum size: about 11 cm (4.3 in) (FishBase, Wikipedia)
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (KB record, warm region water)
- pH: 7.5-8.5 (KB record, alkaline water)
- Sandy substrate with rock structures
- Keep one male with several females
Diet
FishBase gives a trophic level of about 3.3, consistent with an omnivorous diet. In aquaria it readily takes prepared, frozen and live foods.
Compatibility
A hardy, prolific Victorian-region hap, kept one male with several females to spread aggression. It suits robust community tanks with other African Rift Lake cichlids of similar temperament and Synodontis catfish.
Breeding
It is a maternal mouthbrooder and, per Wikipedia, is easily bred in captivity, with the female carrying eggs and fry in her mouth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered. Its wild range is small and threatened, so aquarium populations help conserve the species.