Ornate Julie (Julidochromis ornatus) Care Guide

Slender rock-dwelling Lamprologine with three black horizontal stripes on a yellow body. Reaches 8 cm. Cave-spawning pair bonders; one of the most popular small Tanganyika cichlids.

Overview

Julidochromis ornatus is a species in the family Cichlidae. Slender rock-dwelling Lamprologine with three black horizontal stripes on a yellow body. Reaches 8 cm. Cave-spawning pair bonders; one of the most popular small Tanganyika cichlids.

Taxonomy

Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Julidochromis
Scientific name: Julidochromis ornatus
Other names: Golden Julie
Origin: Africa, Lake Tanganyika

Habitat

Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, inhabiting steep rocky shorelines. Forms strongly monogamous pairs that defend a small territory among rock crevices and spawn on cave surfaces. One of the smaller Julidochromis species; picks invertebrates from biofilm.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 150 L
Temperature: 24-27 °C
pH: 8.5-9.2
GH: 12-25 °dGH
Adult size: 7-9 cm
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Difficulty: intermediate

Diet

Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: semi-aggressive
Swimming level: bottom
Compatible tank mates: Cyprichromis, Synodontis petricola, Shellies
Avoid with: Mbuna, Tropheus, Aggressive Lamprologines

Breeding

Breeding strategy: cave-spawner