Haplochromis obliquidens Care Guide
Haplochromis obliquidens is a small algae-grazing cichlid of Lake Victoria and the Victoria Nile, often confused in the trade with Astatotilapia latifasciata.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Haplochromis obliquidens is a cichlid described by Hilgendorf in 1888, found in Lake Victoria and the adjacent Victoria Nile. It is a small algae- and diatom-grazing haplochromine. In the aquarium trade the name "zebra obliquidens" usually refers instead to Astatotilapia latifasciata from the Lake Kyoga system, so the true H. obliquidens is rarely available.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Haplochromis
- Scientific name: Haplochromis obliquidens
- Author: Hilgendorf, 1888
- Note: trade "zebra obliquidens" is usually Astatotilapia latifasciata
Habitat
FishBase reports it from Lake Victoria and the Victoria Nile, inhabiting the shallow littoral zone, particularly near emergent vegetation. The Victoria basin is warm and alkaline.
Tank requirements
- Maximum size: about 8.9 cm (3.5 in) SL (FishBase, Wikipedia)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (FishBase)
- pH: 7.5-8.5 (KB record, alkaline Victoria water)
- Shallow, alkaline aquascape with algae growth
- Keep one male with several females
Diet
FishBase gives it a low trophic level of about 2.0 and reports it feeds mainly on diatoms (genera such as Melosira, Surirella, Gomphonema, Rhopalodia, Navicula and Cyclotella), making it a specialised algae and diatom grazer. A vegetable-rich diet suits it in aquaria.
Compatibility
As a small Victorian haplochromine it is best kept one male with several females among other peaceful Victorian-region species; its specialised grazing habits favour tanks with natural algae.
Breeding
FishBase confirms it is a mouthbrooder, with the female incubating eggs and fry in her mouth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (assessed 2010).
Haplochromis obliquidens Breeding Guide
Overview
An important note on identity: the true Haplochromis obliquidens (Hilgendorf, 1888), from Lake Victoria and the adjacent Nile, is not known from the aquarium trade. The fish sold as "Zebra Obliquidens" or "Haplochromis zebra obliquidens" is in fact Astatotilapia latifasciata of the Lake Kyoga system, which frequently causes confusion. This guide therefore describes the prolific maternal mouthbrooder kept under this name in the hobby.
Sexing
Males are slightly larger and more colourful than females, developing a yellow body with bold black bars and red finnage; females are duller. Mature males also bear egg-shaped spots on the anal fin used during spawning.
Conditioning
Condition adults on a varied omnivore diet; feeding shrimp, krill and insect larvae helps bring out the rich red colour in males. Well-conditioned females come readily into spawning condition in stable hard, alkaline water.
Breeding Setup
Breed in a species tank as a harem of one male to at least three females, in roughly a 48-inch (about 120 cm) aquarium furnished with flat stones and sandy areas as spawning sites. Reported spawning parameters are pH 7.5–8.0 and a temperature of about 25–27 °C (77–80 °F).
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The male establishes a territory among the rocks and displays vivid colour to attract a ripe female to the spawning site. The female lays eggs, then collects them into her mouth; the male's anal-fin egg spots prompt her collecting behaviour, during which fertilisation occurs orally. Spawning is maternal mouthbrooding.
Egg & Fry Care
Females carry roughly 10–80 eggs (depending on female size) for up to about three weeks before releasing free-swimming fry. Fry are large enough to accept brine shrimp nauplii or crushed flake from the day they are released, and the mother continues to protect them for several weeks.
Common Challenges
Keep a single male to limit aggression during courtship. The main practical pitfall is identity: confirm you are working with the hobby Zebra Obliquidens, and keep it apart from other similar yellow-and-black Victorian-region haps to avoid hybridisation, since several look-alike species exist.