Textilis Lab (Labidochromis textilis) Care Guide
Labidochromis textilis is a slim mbuna cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, kept in hard-water rock communities of similar temperament.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Labidochromis textilis is a slim mbuna cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It shows horizontal black-and-white striping that recalls a woven textile pattern. FishBase records a maximum of about 7.7 cm standard length, and it is among the calmer mbuna.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Labidochromis
- Scientific name: Labidochromis textilis
Habitat
The species is endemic to Lake Malawi, recorded along the east-central coast of the lake. It is a benthopelagic rock-dweller living in the warm, hard, alkaline water of this Rift Valley lake.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L (66 gal)
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet
Labidochromis textilis is omnivorous; FishBase records a trophic level of about 2.7. In captivity it accepts prepared foods balanced with vegetable matter and small invertebrate items.
Compatibility
As a calmer mbuna it suits rock-aquascaped Malawi communities housing species of comparable aggression. It is unsuitable with soft-water fish such as tetras, angelfish, discus and dwarf cichlids, whose water requirements differ.
Breeding
It is a maternal mouthbrooder, in keeping with other Lake Malawi cichlids; the female incubates and guards the eggs and fry in her mouth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018). It is used in commercial fisheries and the aquarium trade and shows high resilience.
Breeding Labidochromis textilis (Textilis Lab)
Overview
Labidochromis textilis is an mbuna endemic to Lake Malawi, occurring on the east-central coast of the lake, with a maximum length around 7.7 cm SL (FishBase). The genus Labidochromis is endemic to Lake Malawi (Wikipedia). Like other Labidochromis, it is a maternal mouthbrooder kept in hard, alkaline water.
Conditioning
As a Lake Malawi mbuna, the species needs hard, alkaline water typical of the lake. In the related Labidochromis caeruleus, breeders are conditioned at pH 7.8-8.9 and 23-26 °C (Wikipedia), parameters representative of the genus. Feed an omnivorous diet that includes vegetable matter and small invertebrates.
Breeding Setup
Provide rockwork and caves with a sandy substrate, the standard mbuna layout that supplies territories and spawning sites. Hard, alkaline, warm water within the genus's documented range supports breeding; a dominant male with several females reduces aggression.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
In Labidochromis the male excavates a pit in the sand within his territory where the female lays eggs, and the female then takes the eggs into her mouth for fertilisation (Wikipedia, describing L. caeruleus). The same maternal mouthbrooding pattern applies to L. textilis as a member of this genus.
Egg & Fry Care
The eggs are carried, hatch and develop in the mother's mouth for about three weeks before free-swimming fry are released (Wikipedia, for the congener L. caeruleus). Released fry accept fine first foods; brooding females may be isolated to protect the brood.
Common Challenges
Hard alkaline water and managing aggression are the main considerations. Members of the genus can hybridise readily, so it is recommended to keep only one Labidochromis species per tank to preserve genetic integrity (Wikipedia).