Breeding Chromidotilapia linkei (Linke's Cichlid)

Chromidotilapia linkei is a pair-bonding biparental mouthbrooder from Cameroon. The female incubates up to about 150 eggs in her mouth in soft, near-neutral water.

Overview

Chromidotilapia linkei is a cichlid restricted to the Mungo and Wouri river systems in Cameroon (FishBase). FishBase records a maximum length of about 7.7 cm SL, with one reference noting up to 9.3 cm TL. It is a pair-bonding, ovophilic mouthbrooder; the female is the mouthbrooding parent, incubating up to about 150 eggs (FishBase). Both sexes participate in parental care while the female assumes the primary brooding role.

Conditioning

FishBase records 24-27 °C, pH 7.0-7.5 and a minimum hardness around 3 dH for the species. Soft, near-neutral water reflects its native rivers. Condition the pair on a varied omnivorous diet to bring them into breeding readiness.

Breeding Setup

Provide a flat open surface for egg deposition and a layout that allows a bonded pair to hold a territory. Soft, slightly acidic to neutral water within the documented range supports spawning in this soft-water specialty species.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

As an ovophilic, pair-bonding mouthbrooder, the pair selects and cleans a spawning surface; eggs are laid and then taken into the mouth. The female broods up to about 150 eggs while both parents share in parental duties (FishBase). The clutch is relatively small for a cichlid, in keeping with the intensive parental investment of mouthbrooders.

Egg & Fry Care

The female incubates the eggs and larvae in her mouth before releasing free-swimming fry, with both parents providing care. Released fry take fine first foods. The pair continues to guard the young after release.

Common Challenges

This species is rare in the hobby and a soft-water specialist, so maintaining the documented soft, near-neutral parameters is important. Establishing a stable bonded pair is the main hurdle to consistent spawning.