Ctenochromis horei Breeding Guide

How to breed Ctenochromis horei (now Shuja horei), a Lake Tanganyika haplochromine that is a maternal mouthbrooder with male egg-spot courtship.

Overview

Ctenochromis horei is a haplochromine cichlid of the Lake Tanganyika basin and its tributary rivers, including the Ruzizi and Lukuga. It was reclassified into the monospecific genus Shuja (as Shuja horei) in 2022 by Genner, Ngatunga and Turner. It reaches about 20 cm SL; adults occur over both rock and sand but prefer soft substrates bearing aquatic grasses. It is a maternal mouthbrooder: the female broods both eggs and fry in her mouth.

Sexing

The species is sexually dimorphic. Males reach roughly 18-20 cm and females about 12-15 cm, and larger individuals over 60 mm develop black spots on the head. During courtship, foraging males display a distinct orange spot on the anal fin to females, the classic haplochromine egg-spot used as a breeding signal.

Conditioning

Ctenochromis horei is classed as omnivorous overall, but adults are mainly piscivorous, with FishBase placing it at a trophic level near 3.5. A varied, protein-rich diet appropriate to a predatory haplochromine conditions females for spawning.

Breeding Setup

Keep one male with several females to spread aggression in a large tank furnished with rock and sand and patches of open substrate. Hard, alkaline Tanganyikan water suits it, with FishBase citing a temperature range of about 24-26 degrees C. Dominant males defend a spawning female from rivals, so cover and space help reduce conflict.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

A dominant male defends a spawning female from other males in the area and uses his anal-fin egg-spot during courtship; subordinate males may attempt sneaky matings. After spawning the female takes the eggs into her mouth, while reproductive hierarchies among males structure access to ready females.

Egg & Fry Care

FishBase records that larvae up to about 1.42 cm TL are mouthbrooded by female parents ranging from 8.4 to 9.6 cm SL. The female carries both eggs and fry until release; a holding female may be separated to protect the brood. Released fry accept small prepared and live foods sized to their mouths.

Common Challenges

Male aggression and the predatory nature of adults are the chief concerns: small tankmates may be eaten, and a single dominant male can harass females heavily, so a harem with cover is preferred. Holding females may release or swallow a brood prematurely if stressed.