Platytaeniodus degeni Care Guide
Platytaeniodus degeni is a Lake Victoria haplochromine cichlid, treated by FishBase under Haplochromis degeni, a littoral mouthbrooder kept as a conservation hobby strain.
Overview
Platytaeniodus degeni is a haplochromine cichlid of the Lake Victoria region. FishBase treats it under the name Haplochromis degeni (Boulenger, 1906) and records a maximum standard length of 15.4 cm. It is part of the Lake Victoria species flock, many members of which are maintained as conservation hobby strains.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Platytaeniodus
- Scientific name: Platytaeniodus degeni
- FishBase valid name: Haplochromis degeni (Boulenger, 1906)
Habitat
FishBase records the species from Lake Victoria, Africa. It is a freshwater, demersal fish with a depth range of 0-15 m and is probably restricted to littoral and sublittoral areas.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L (66 gal)
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Setup: sand substrate with rockwork
Diet
The species is an omnivore (FishBase trophic level about 3.2). FishBase notes it feeds from sand or organic mud, taking animal remains that include insect larvae, Hydracarina, copepods, ostracods and bivalves. A varied diet suits it in captivity.
Compatibility
As a Victorian haplochromine it is best kept with other robust Lake Victoria region cichlids in a spacious tank, avoiding sensitive dwarf or soft-water species. Stocking that disperses aggression helps maintain stability.
Breeding
FishBase records that this species is a maternal mouthbrooder: the female incubates the eggs and young in her mouth, a reproductive strategy typical of haplochromine cichlids.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2010), per FishBase. Lake Victoria cichlids as a group have suffered major declines, which is why many are maintained as hobby conservation strains.