Callochromis macrops Breeding Guide

How to breed the big-eyed sand-sifter Callochromis macrops: deep-sand crater bowers, anal-fin egg mimicry, harem ratios and maternal mouthbrooding.

Overview

Callochromis macrops is a sand-sifting cichlid endemic to the southern part of Lake Tanganyika, where it inhabits open sandy areas near rocks. It is a maternal mouthbrooder. Females range from about 8.6 to 10.0 cm SL while brooding larvae up to roughly 1.38 cm. With the tank built around its needs the species makes a rewarding breeding project.

Sexing

Males are noticeably larger and more brightly coloured than females, developing the orange-red mid-body and iridescent blue scales, which makes sexing mature fish straightforward. Females stay smaller and plainer.

Conditioning

Condition breeders on generous amounts of live and frozen foods. Keep multiple females per male, since males can be rough on potential partners; a harem reduces the pressure on any single female.

Breeding Setup

Provide a spawning tank around 120 x 45 x 45 cm (48 x 18 x 18 in) with a deep sand bed of roughly 5-8 cm (2-3 in) for bower construction and minimal rockwork so open floor remains. Maintain hard alkaline water around pH 8.0-9.0 and a spawning temperature near 25-27 C (77-80 F).

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Males construct crater-like nests in the sand and perform an elaborate display, folding the anal fin so an orange-red splash mimics an egg. The female lays eggs in the nest, then picks them up orally; the male's egg-mimic display draws her close so sperm is released and the eggs are fertilised in her mouth.

Egg & Fry Care

Broods of about 25-60 eggs are carried for up to roughly three weeks before the free-swimming fry are released. The fry are large enough to take brine shrimp nauplii from the day they become free-swimming.

Common Challenges

The species is boisterous and males can harass females, so a generous footprint, a harem and deep open sand are key. Crowded or rock-heavy layouts inhibit bower building. As a sand-sifter it constantly mouths the substrate, so a fine sand bed is important.